An investigational breath test is showing promise for the detection of esophageal and gastric cancers, potentially avoiding expensive endoscopies for patients who do not need them, say UK researchers. A study that included more than 300 patients indicated that analysis of five volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath can differentiate between cancer patients and control patients with an overall accuracy of 85%. The findings were presented here at the inaugural meeting of the European CanCer Organisation (ECCO) Congress 2017.
National Institute of Health research clinical trials fellow from Imperial College London, the United Kingdom, said in a statement: "At present, the only way to diagnose esophageal cancer or stomach cancer is with endoscopy. This method is expensive, invasive, and has some risk of complications. "A breath test could be used as a noninvasive, first-line…
