We talk odorology, in other words the science of smells. Avenues that are increasingly seriously studied and deciphered by scientists. We know, for example, that the animalsespecially dogs, which have a smell highly developed, can detect certain pathologies. Which therefore assumes that the maladies emit odors that our human noses cannot perceive.
Based on this observation, researchers from Zhejiang University located in Quzhou, a city in southwest China, sought to identify molecules specific to lung cancer in exhaled air. Their work was published at the beginning of November 2024 in the journal ACS Sensors.
Lung cancer: sensors capable of detecting it in the breath
The idea is not new: other teams before this one have established that we could certainly eventually diagnose lung cancer simply thanks to the composition of breath or exhaled air through the nose. We know that certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are found in patients with cancer. bronchopulmonary. Therefore, we can easily imagine a simple test de diagnostic in place of (or for early detection) more extensive examinations. “Collecting exhaled air is simple, non-invasive, and can be carried out during a consultation or respiratory function tests.”, explains Dr Grégoire Justeau from the pulmonology department of the Angers University Hospital in an article published in 2022 on the site of The French-speaking Pneumology Society (SPLF).
Dr. Grégoire also recalls that Dutch and Turkish researchers have already carried out similar tests on small cohorts of patients, with satisfactory results. Enough to seriously consider this type of screening test in the years to come.
-A sensor capable of detecting nanoparticles
Still, we need a high-performance tool to analyze and detect cancer “odors” in exhaled air in a few minutes. This is what Chinese researchers have just developed: ultrasensitive sensors capable in particular of analyzing the modifications of a particular molecule, theisoprene. Isoprene being a typical biomarker found in lung cancer.
The media for health professionals Santelog relays the results of Chinese researchers and details the performances of this new tool “based on indium oxide nanosheets” which contains platinum, indium and nickel. These sensors are thus capable of detecting minute levels of isoprene “of the order of a few parts per billion (ppb)”. As part of the study, these new sensors have proven to be particularly effective. To be continued.
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