Volatile organic compounds (VOC) in exhaled breath in patients with lung cancer, using the analytical technique thermal desorber- gase chromatography-spectrometer mases

AIM : Oxidative stress is increased in lung cancer (LC) and generated volatile organic compounds (VOC). We can detect VOC in exhaled breath using the analytical technique TD / GC / MS. The determination of VOC, may be useful as a noninvasive screening in LC. OBJETIVE : To determine differences in VOC present in the exhaled breath in 3 groups: LC group, COPD group and clinically healthy volunteers. METHODS: Case-control study with 81 patients with LC, 40 patients with COPD and 89 healthy volunteers (without respiratory disease). Informed consent accepted. Collection of exhaled breath by means BioVOC™ to functional residual capacity Analytical technique: TD/GC/MS (Markes-Agilent Tech.) Statistical analysis: SPSS® v-15 for Windows. RESULTS: Description of the sample. Quantitative study and qualitative study of VOC. CONCLUSSIONS : 1-Nonanoic acid is the only VOC with statistical significance between study groups: and it is independent of age and smoke custom. 2. – The probability to find nonanoic acid in LC group is higher than control and COPD groups 3. - Nonanoic acid and heptanal could be useful to discriminate between LC + COPD patients versus LC without COPD patients. 4. - In our sample, nonanoic acid could be useful like a LC tumorlike marker. Supported by FIS: PI07/1116; Neumomadrid 2008 and SEPAR 2010: PI-881.