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Electronic Nose Detects Cancer with High Accuracy

April 02, 2025
electronic nose cancer detection AI volatile organic compounds pancreatic cancer ovarian cancer non-invasive screening VOC Health
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed an "electronic nose" that uses AI to detect cancer through volatile organic compounds in blood plasma, achieving high accuracy in identifying hard-to-detect cancers like pancreatic and ovarian cancer.

Detecting Cancer Through Smell: The Promise of the "Electronic Nose"

The E-Nose Knows: Can “Breathprint” Analysis Improve ...

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed an innovative tool known as the "electronic nose" or "e-nose," which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by cancer cells in blood plasma samples. This technology has shown remarkable accuracy in distinguishing between benign and cancerous cells, particularly for hard-to-detect cancers like pancreatic and ovarian cancer.

How It Works

The e-nose is equipped with nanosensors calibrated to detect the unique mixture of VOCs that cancer cells release. The system works similarly to the human sense of smell, where a distinct combination of compounds helps identify specific odors. In this case, the tool is trained to recognize VOC patterns associated with cancer cells versus healthy cells.

Key Findings

  • The e-nose achieved 95% accuracy in identifying ovarian cancer and 90% accuracy for pancreatic cancer.
  • It successfully detected all early-stage cancer cases in the study, showcasing its potential for early diagnosis.
  • The detection process takes 20 minutes or less, making it a rapid and non-invasive screening method.

Collaboration and Commercialization

The research team is collaborating with VOC Health to commercialize the device for clinical applications. Prototypes of the device are expected to be available soon, enabling further research and development. The technology has also been adapted to detect COVID-19 through its odor signature, highlighting its versatility.

Implications for Cancer Detection

If successfully integrated into clinical practice, the e-nose could revolutionize cancer screening by providing a simple, cost-effective, and non-invasive method for early detection. This is especially significant for cancers like pancreatic and ovarian, which are often diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment options are limited.

Future Directions

The research team continues to refine the technology, aiming to improve its accuracy and speed further. The collaboration between Penn Medicine, VOC Health, and other institutions underscores the potential of interdisciplinary efforts in advancing medical diagnostics.

For more details, visit the original article.

Sources

“Electronic Nose” Accurately Sniffs Out Hard-to-Detect Cancers An odor-based test that sniffs out vapors emanating from blood samples was able to distinguish between benign and pancreatic and ovarian ...
A Sensor Sniffs for Cancer, Using Artificial Intelligence Like the nose, the cancer detection technology uses an array of multiple sensors to detect a molecular signature of the disease.
Analytical and unconventional methods of cancer detection using odor Methods based on volatile markers in breath may detect early-stage cancer. These are non-invasive, painless and harmless to the patient. Table 1 lists typical ...
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