Lung Cancer "Smelled" by Nanotechnology Sensors

Two separate groups of researchers have experimented with the use of nanotechnology sensors to detect the presence of cancer by "smelling" air molecules in the breath of patients with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Breath analysis of cancer patients had been studied in 2006 by Michael McCulloch in a research study where five dogs were trained to either sit or lie down in front of a test station after inhaling breath samples of 86 cancer patients and 83 healthy patients. The dogs accurately identified those patients with lung cancer and breast cancer between 88-97 % of the time even if the patients were smokers or were in the early stages of their disease.

Nanotechnology has furthered the method of diagnosing cancer with "smell" using specially programmed nanotechnology sensors. In Haifa Israel, Dr. Hossam Haick Ph.D and his team tested carbon nanotubes coated with special organic substances that are capable of signaling the electrical change when they come in contact with the type of molecules that are in human breath.

Carbon nanotubes are rolled sheets of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagon pattern and are 10,000 times thinner than hair. The researchers used 10 different types of coatings which create different identifiable signals when exposed to the type of substances in exhaled air. The air tested was from 15 patients with stage 4 lung cancer and 15 healthy individuals. Their device was able to discern between "healthy air" and "lung cancer" air.

The other researchers led by Dr. Dragonieri from University of Bari in Italy, used a device called Cyranose 320 that was originally designed by NASA to detect spills or leaks which could have dire consequences to a space crew dependent on the recycled air in a space shuttle. The Cyranose 320 has since been used for quality control for the food industry to check for spoilage and for chemical companies to evaluate hazardous substances.

Dr. Dragoneri's researchers tested the breath of 30 patients: 10 with non-small cell lung cancer, 10 with COPD and 10 healthy as the control group. The Cyranose 320 was able to discern the organic compounds in the breath of each of the patients through analysis by the nanosensors in the device measuring the "smell prints" of each patient. The "smell prints" of patients with lung cancer, COPD and healthy patients clustered into distinct patterns allowing each group of patients to be easily identified.

The results of both Dr. Haick and Dr. Dragonieri's studies provide the impetus for continued research on how non invasive tools can contribute to the diagnosis of these often fatal diseases that not only destroy families but cost millions of dollars in treatments of diseases that are often diagnosed too late.

Source:

Dogs can detect early lung, breast cancer study finds. Jan 5, 2006 courtesy Sage Publications and World Science staff. Retrieved on May 23, 2009 from http://www.world-science.net/othernews/060106_dogsfrm.htm

Nanosensor Arrays 'Smell' Cancer April 27th, 2009. Retrieved on May 23, 2009 from http://www.physorg.com/news160065741.html

Spin off 2001: Cyrano "Nose" the Smell of Success. Retrieved on May 23, 2009 from http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/spinoff2001/ps4.html

Carbon Nanotubes Detect Lung Cancer Markers in the Breath. Retrieved on May 24, 2009 from http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news-carbon-nanotubes-detect-lung-cancer-ct81201.aspx