title: Investigation of VOCs associated with different characteristics of breast cancer cells.
abstract: The efficacy of breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysis for the screening of patients bearing breast cancer lesions has been demonstrated by using gas chromatography and artificial olfactory systems. On the other hand, in-vitro studies suggest that VOCs detection could also give important indications regarding molecular and tumorigenic characteristics of tumor cells. Aim of this study was to analyze VOCs in the headspace of breast cancer cell lines in order to ascertain the potentiality of VOCs signatures in giving information about these cells and set-up a new sensor system able to detect breast tumor-associated VOCs. We identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis a VOCs signature that discriminates breast cancer cells for: i) transformed condition; ii) cell doubling time (CDT); iii) Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors (ER, PgR) expression, and HER2 overexpression. Moreover, the signals obtained from a temperature modulated metal oxide semiconductor gas sensor can be classified in order to recognize VOCs signatures associated with breast cancer cells, CDT and ER expression. Our results demonstrate that VOCs analysis could give clinically relevant information about proliferative and molecular features of breast cancer cells and pose the basis for the optimization of a low-cost diagnostic device to be used for tumors characterization.
authors: Labotatory of Biomedical Research "Fondazione Niccolò Cusano per la Ricerca Medico-Scientifica", Niccolò Cusano University, Rome, Italy.
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Lavra
authors: Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Alexandro
authors: A
authors: Catini
authors: Labotatory of Biomedical Research "Fondazione Niccolò Cusano per la Ricerca Medico-Scientifica", Niccolò Cusano University, Rome, Italy.
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Ulivieri
authors: Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Rosamaria
authors: R
authors: Capuano
authors: Labotatory of Biomedical Research "Fondazione Niccolò Cusano per la Ricerca Medico-Scientifica", Niccolò Cusano University, Rome, Italy.
authors: Leila
authors: L
authors: Baghernajad Salehi
authors: Labotatory of Biomedical Research "Fondazione Niccolò Cusano per la Ricerca Medico-Scientifica", Niccolò Cusano University, Rome, Italy.|Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Sciacchitano
authors: Department of Pathology, Universitary Hospital Sant'Andrea, Rome, Italy.|Department of Oncology-Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Armando
authors: A
authors: Bartolazzi
authors: Department of Chemical science and technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via di Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Nardis
authors: Department of Chemical science and technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via di Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Paolesse
authors: Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Eugenio
authors: E
authors: Martinelli
authors: Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Corrado
authors: C
authors: Di Natale
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D062609:Electronic Nose; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds