The effectiveness of E-nose technology in diagnosing early stage lung cancer in real-world settings has been confirmed

A team of researchers from several medical institutions has demonstrated impressive results of the sensitivity and specificity of E-nose technology in detecting lung cancer at early stages, providing an alternative to invasive biopsy for malignant thoracic organ tumors.

Detecting cancer at the earliest possible stage expands treatment options, improving survival and quality of life. In a Phase IIc study, a team of researchers aimed to evaluate the accuracy of an “electronic nose” device in detecting combinations of chemicals released by cancer cells called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In a cohort of 100 participants aged 21-85 years referred to the hospital with lung nodules, the team found that the results of the E-nose test matched the histopathology results 86% of the time, with an F1 score of 92.5%, accounting for 86 true positives, two false negatives and 12 false positives.

Lead researcher Gaetano Rocco of Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, New York, USA commented: “Our results suggest that the E-nose will be an excellent addition to existing methods of lung cancer diagnosis and will pose no risk to the patient because it is non-invasive. E-nose reliably detected lung cancer at early stages and was very accurate compared to long-established imaging techniques.”

The E-nose test is conducted in two steps: first, the patient breathes into an air collection device for several minutes. If volatile organic compounds are present in the air exhaled by the patient, the sensor converts the received electronic signals into a “breath print”, which is then analyzed by a separate machine that can detect the presence of cancer in just a few hours.

It is interesting to note that E-nose sent fewer patients with malignant nodules to follow-up than the Swensen and Brock models, while concluding that more patients with malignant nodules should be referred for treatment without the need for biopsy. Overall, the results suggest that E-nose technology may be a useful addition to imaging or part of a multidimensional platform.

The researchers also note that the technology could prove useful in remote areas where traditional lung cancer screening options are limited.

Paley European Institute Poland,WarsawLeave a request

National Cancer Institute Ukraine,KyivLeave a request

Cellthera Clinic Czech RepublicLeave a request

Published: 11.09.2024

Updated: 15.09.2024

Medical author, Medical editor:

Stepan Yuk

Medical expert:

PhD. Olexandr Voznyak