Detection technologies of volatile organic compounds in the breath for cancer diagnoses

Tien Le; Ronny Priefer

doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124767

Detection technologies of volatile organic compounds in the breath for cancer diagnoses

Talanta. 2023 Dec 1:265:124767. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124767. Epub 2023 Jun 5.

Authors

Tien Le¹, Ronny Priefer²

Affiliations

¹ Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University, Boston, Ma, United States.
² Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University, Boston, Ma, United States. Electronic address: ronny.priefer@mcphs.edu.

PMID: 37327663
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.124767

Abstract

Although there are new approaches in both cancer treatment and diagnosis, overall mortality is a major concern. New technologies have attempted to look at breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detection to diagnose cancer. Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC - MS) have remained the gold standard of VOC analysis for decades, but it has limitations in differentiating VOCs between cancer subtypes. To increase efficacy and accuracy, new methods to analyze these breath VOCs have been introduced, such as Solid Phase Microextraction/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (SPME/GC-MS), Selected Ion Flow Tube - Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS), Proton Transfer Reaction - Mass Spectrometry (PRT-MS), Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS), and Colorimetric Sensors. This article highlights new technologies that have been studied and applied in the detection and quantification of breath VOCs for possible cancer diagnoses.

Keywords: Breath; Cancer; Gas chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Breath Tests / methods
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / methods
Mass Spectrometry / methods
Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Solid Phase Microextraction / methods
Volatile Organic Compounds* / analysis

Substances

Volatile Organic Compounds