A Look at Infrared Spectroscopy-Based Breath Analysis

Breath analysis is one clinical practice that has helped doctors detect specific diseases in patients. Some of these diseases include inflammatory lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma, to name a few (1). These tests are designed to analyze the composition of exhaled breath, which provide important information about the human exposome (1).

Currently, prostate cancer is one of the deadliest cancers for men, with one in nine men likely to be afflicted with it worldwide (2). The prostate is a gland that surrounds the top of the urethra (2). This cancer is caused by mutations in cells, creating tumors in that gland (2). Older men are more likely to have it than younger men. According to the data from the American Institute of Cancer Research, approximately 60% of men who get prostate cancer are over 65 years old (2).

Because prostate cancer is the second-deadliest cancer for men, numerous efforts have been underway to try and help improve patient outcomes (2). A recent study published in Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy explored this topic by seeing if infrared (IR) spectroscopy can aid breath analysis in detecting this cancer. Led by Kiran Sankar Maiti in Germany, researchers have demonstrated the potential of infrared spectroscopy-based breath analysis as a non-invasive tool for diagnosing prostate cancer (3).

Conceptual image for prostate cancer treatment, 3D illustration showing destruction of a tumor inside prostate gland | Image Credit: © Dr_Microbe - stock.adobe.com

Prostate cancer remains challenging to detect in its early stages. According to 2020 data, over 1.4 million new cases were diagnosed globally, with more than 400,000 fatalities—representing a mortality rate exceeding 26% (3). Currently, tissue biopsies are the most reliable diagnostic tool, but they are invasive and often associated with discomfort and risks (3). This limitation highlights the urgent need for less invasive diagnostic approaches.

Using IR spectroscopy, the research team identified volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath. VOCs, which are metabolic byproducts, can serve as biomarkers for various diseases, including cancer (3,4). Although these compounds are present in trace amounts, the team developed techniques to amplify their spectral signals for reliable analysis (3).

As part of their experimental procedure, the researchers examined 63 volunteers, including patients with prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers, as well as healthy individuals. The exhaled air served as the biofluid for detecting disease-specific VOCs (3). The IR spectral data were analyzed using two distinct approaches, enabling the identification of patterns linked to prostate cancer (3).

The findings revealed that IR spectroscopy could effectively distinguish prostate cancer patients from healthy individuals. This distinction is crucial, as early detection dramatically improves treatment outcomes. Furthermore, the method showed promise in differentiating prostate cancer from other urological malignancies, such as bladder and kidney cancers (3).

Traditional biopsies are commonly used, but they come with several key drawbacks. As mentioned earlier, they are invasive and expensive to perform (3). Breath analysis is viewed as a less expensive and quicker alternative, which is ideal for widespread screening programs, particularly in resource-limited settings (3).

Although the results from this study were encouraging, the researchers acknowledged that further research needs to be done to validate their method. They recommend that future studies should focus on improving the sensitivity and specificity of the method, as well as exploring its application to other cancers and diseases (3).

This approach aligns with the broader movement in medicine toward personalized and non-invasive diagnostics. The ability to detect prostate cancer through a simple breath test could transform how the disease is managed, enabling earlier interventions and reducing the reliance on invasive procedures (3).

The study also underscores the importance of metabolite-based diagnostics in cancer research. By leveraging advanced spectroscopic techniques, scientists can uncover subtle metabolic changes that traditional methods might overlook (3).

As the medical community seeks more effective ways to combat cancer, innovations like this breath analysis technique bring hope for a future where early diagnosis is accessible, accurate, and minimally invasive. With further research and development, this method could save countless lives and set a new standard in cancer care.

References

1. Amann, A.; Miekisch, W.; Schubert, J.; et al. Analysis of exhaled breath for disease detection. Annu. Rev. Anal. Chem. (Palo Alto Calif.). 2014, 7, 455–482. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anchem-071213-020043
2. American Institute for Cancer Research, Prostate Cancer. AICR.org. Available at: https://www.aicr.org/cancer-survival/cancer/prostate-cancer/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiArva5BhBiEiwA-oTnXY4EuGI_EeLxxuT55-fu-gjKZbAB-oFFYzzPnvn9gUJOhZjS4oaDJxoCr3UQAvD_BwE (accessed 2024-11-20).
3. Maiti, K. S.; Fill, E.; Strittmatter, F.; et al. Standard Operating Procedure to Reveal Prostate Cancer Specific Volatile Organic Molecules by Infrared Spectroscopy. Spectrochim. Acta A. Mol. Biomol. Spectrosc. 2024, 304, 123266. DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.123266
4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, What Are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)? EPA.gov. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-are-volatile-organic-compounds-vocs (accessed 2024-11-20).