Detect Cancer Through Breath

Haifa, To detect the cancer, doctors usually perform screening tests using CT scans, MRI or by biopsy (tissue sample). But with the latest technology, the cancer can be detected through the blast of breath.

Scientists have found the 'electronic nose' that can be used as a simple breath test to detect several types of common cancers, namely lung cancer, breast, colon and prostate.

By using sensors that can identify changes in body chemistry, the scientists not only can detect the breath of healthy people and people with cancer, but also can identify four types of tumors that often occur in humans.

While technology is constantly being developed, early development has shown that success, inexpensive and easy to use. In addition, the portable test also has dpat help diagnose cancer early.

"If we can confirm the initial results in large-scale studies, this new technology can be a simple tool for early diagnosis of cancer in conjunction with imaging equipment," said Abraham Kuten from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, as reported by Reuters on Wednesday (11 / 8 / 2010).

Kuten and colleagues studied the breath of 177 people, consisting of healthy people and some people with various types of cancer, to detect different chemicals that are emitted from the surface of cancer cells when it begins to grow.

This discovery, published in the British Journal of Cancer, is a continuation of previous research studies that have been published by scientists from the same institute last year.

In previous studies, the sensor is made with gold nanoparticles can detect lung cancer through the blast of breath. The tool is called with cancer breathalyzer test.