Breath analysis as a diagnostic tool for lung cancer

Abstract

The early diagnosis of lung cancer is key to effectively treating this common and deadly disease.  In this review we consider whether non-invasive breath based detection of volatile biomarkers offers a means to screen populations for the presence of the disease.  We find that many potential volatile cancer biomarkers have been reported, including some by in multiple studies, and that many are biologically plausible.  The field lack of prospective studies, however, which examining whether use of such markers are able to detect lung cancer in its presymptomatic stages.  This and a lack of knowledge as to the various endogenous and exogenous sources of these hamper the clinical development of this testing paradigm despite its undeniable appeal.  Further work is therefore required before any firm conclusions can be drawn regarding the utility of breath analysis for the diagnosis of lung cancer.

Keywords: breath