Different volatile signals emitted by human ovarian carcinoma and healthy tissue.
Many cancers are detected at a late stage resulting in high mortality rates. Thus, it is essential to develop inexpensive and simple methods for early diagnosis. Detection of different malignancies using canine scent, as well as other technical methods, has been reported in peer-reviewed journals, indicating that this may represent a new diagnostic tool for malignancies.


OBJECTIVE
This study aims to test the detection of different volatile organic compound signals emitted by ovarian carcinoma and normal tissues.


METHODS
A previously tested electronic nose is used in the pilot study to analyze human grade 3 seropapillary ovarian carcinoma samples. The recorded signals were compared with healthy human Fallopian tube specimens. A variety of algorithms were tested and confusion matrices compared. In parallel, an external validation study was performed using the same type and grade of human ovarian carcinomas with healthy myometrium (first part) and postmenopausal ovarium (second part) specimens as controls. Both sample types were obtained from individuals who did not participate in the pilot study.


RESULTS
Method sensitivity was 100% (15 of 15) in the pilot study. The first part of the validation study demonstrated that 84.8% of cancer tissues (sensitivity: 84.8%) and 88.6% of the control samples (specificity: 88.6%) were correctly classified. In the second part the JRip algorithm correctly classified 75% of cancer tissues (sensitivity: 75%) and 80% of the control ovarian tissues (specificity: 80%). Collating results gives a sensitivity of 84.4%, whereas overall specificity was 86.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
Although based on a limited number of samples, our results strongly suggest that specific volatile organic compound signals emitted by ovarian carcinomas may be used for early diagnosis of the disease.
Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. gyorgy.horvath@oncology.gu.se
György
G
Horvath
José
J
Chilo
Thomas
T
Lindblad
D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000737:chemistry*; D000465:Algorithms; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004566:Electrodes; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009215:Myometrium / Q000737:chemistry*; D009812:Odorants; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017698:Postmenopause; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012666:Semiconductors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D017971:Tin Compounds; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017971:Tin Compounds; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C045358:stannic oxide