Tez M, Şahingöz E, Martlı HF. Advancements in breath-based diagnostics for pancreatic cancer: Current insights and future perspectives. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16(6): 2300-2303 [PMID: 38994133 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i6.2300]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Mesut Tez, MD, Chief Physician, Department of Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, District of Universities, No. 1 Bilkent Street, Ankara 06800, Türkiye. mesuttez@yahoo.com
Research Domain of This Article
Oncology
Article-Type of This Article
Editorial
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Jun 15, 2024; 16(6): 2300-2303 Published online Jun 15, 2024. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i6.2300
Advancements in breath-based diagnostics for pancreatic cancer: Current insights and future perspectives
Mesut Tez, Eda Şahingöz, Hüseyin Fahri Martlı
Mesut Tez, Department of Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara 06800, Türkiye
Eda Şahingöz, Department of General Surgery, Sağlık Bilimleri University, Ankara 06100, Türkiye
Hüseyin Fahri Martlı, Department of General Surgery, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara 06100, Türkiye
Author contributions: Tez M, Şahingöz E, and Martlı HF wrote the manuscript; and all of the authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest to declare.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mesut Tez, MD, Chief Physician, Department of Surgery, University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, District of Universities, No. 1 Bilkent Street, Ankara 06800, Türkiye. mesuttez@yahoo.com
Received: January 14, 2024 Revised: April 19, 2024 Accepted: April 29, 2024 Published online: June 15, 2024 Processing time: 152 Days and 12.8 Hours
Abstract
Recent decades have seen a concerning surge in carcinogenic diseases, with cancer cases and deaths on the rise globally. Conventional diagnostic methods are often invasive and time-consuming, highlighting the need for fast, accurate, and painless alternatives. Non-invasive exhaled breath analysis emerges as a promising solution, with over 200 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in exhaled air, showing potential as biomarkers for various diseases, including cancer. Despite the lack of standardized methodologies, advancements in analytical instruments have expanded detection capabilities, reaching 3500 VOCs. Studies have identified specific VOC patterns associated with different cancers, offering hope for non-invasive diagnosis. Techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and electronic noses show promise in distinguishing between healthy individuals and cancer patients. However, further research and standardization are needed to realize the full clinical potential of breath-based diagnostics, particularly in the early detection of challenging cancers like pancreatic cancer.
Core Tip: This study delves into the potential of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath as non-invasive biomarkers for distinguishing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) from intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and healthy individuals. Through breath analysis, distinct VOC profiles, particularly dimethyl sulfide and acetone dimer, emerge as promising candidates for PDAC identification. Acetone dimer surpasses the established biomarker carbohydrate antigen 19-9 in diagnostic performance, showcasing its relevance in early detection. Despite study limitations, these findings open avenues for further research, emphasizing the need for standardized methodologies and larger-scale investigations in the realm of breath-based diagnostics for pancreatic cancer.
