Changes in body fluid odors can be used to identify the presence of lung cancer tumors, has been shown in a new study by American researchers.
Changes in body fluid odors can be used to identify the presence of lung cancer tumors, has been shown in a new study by American researchers.
The research by scientists at the Monell Center and collaborators may help in methods to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers for lung cancer in human urine.Monell biologist Gary K. Beauchamp, a senior author on the study, said: "Cancer tumors result in a change in body-related odours that can be detected both by trained animal sensors and by sophisticated chemical techniques.
"These findings indicate that odour sensing has the potential to improve early diagnostic and prognostic approaches to lung cancer treatment."
The scientists used a controlled animal model to reduce many confounding factors frequently found in human patient studies.
In behavioural studies, sensor mice were first trained to recognize the scent of urine of animals with lung cancer tumours. The trained sensor mice were then able to use urine odour to make a difference between tumour-bearing from healthy animals.
Chemical examination of urine compounds showed that the amounts of several chemical compounds differed significantly between tumour-bearing and healthy mice. Interestingly, the levels of many of these compounds were lessened in tumour-bearing mice rather than increased, which is often expected.
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The findings show that lung cancers produce changes in odorous compounds secreted in urine and that these changes can be detected and used as markers for the disease.
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Albelda added: "Using the same chemical approaches as in this paper, we hope to be able to detect odors in urine of smokers that could be used to identify lung cancer at a very early stage."
The study has appeared online in the journal PLoS One.
Source-ANI
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