Most doctors will tell you that the most important step to beginning cancer treatment is diagnosis- an undiagnosed, malignant cancer will almost certainly lead to death in a patient. Thus, doctors utilize a variety of diagnostic tests, techniques, and technologies to diagnose these growths. This can include, but isn't limited to, blood tests, MRIs, PET and CT scans, as well as physical examinations. While generally accepted as standard, quality techniques, some of these tests can be expensive, inaccessible, or uncomfortable for patients.That's where recent technological innovation out of Israel comes in. The NA-NOSE (Nanoscale Artificial Nose), developed by the Israel Institute of Technology, has demonstrated the ability to detect the presence of some varieties of cancer, including cancers forming in the head, neck, and lungs. It is capable of distinguishing between specific types of these cancers, including mouth, lip, lung, larynx and salivary gland cancers. All the patient is required to do is breathe onto the microscopic sensors of the device- a completely non-invasive, pain-free, and fast medical test, especially relative to some of the currently used tests.
This device is capable of this amazing feat by utilizing "five gold
nanoparticle sensors and
computer algorithms to identify the mold of unstable organic compounds in the breaths exhaled." (http://www.biblehealth.com/latest-news/whiffing-cancer-out.html)You see, tumorous cells often produce distinct, detectable molecules (tumor markers) that circulate throughout the bloodstream. The NA-NOSE can identify and detect these particles in a patient's breath and determine where the cancer is most likely to be located, based on the chemical composition of the markers.
The device showed extremely promising results in the first clinical trial, which mainly tested for the aforementioned head and neck cancers, and more trials are being held. One of the more recent trials has adjusted the sensors to detect the sensors in an attempt to detect breast and colon cancer. That is one of the hallmark features of the NA-NOSE technology- its nanoparticle sensors are theoretically easily adjusted and changed for different testing purposes.
However, this technology is still very young and still developing- its practical use for widespread diagnostic and screening tool will depend on continued testing. Its results, which have so far been overwhelming positive in small scale trials, will have to remain so when applied to larger scales.
Finally, an interesting (and cute!) note related to the creative origins of the technology:
Studies starting as early as 2006, as well as trials still ocurring today, have shown that dogs, with their incredibly sensitive noses, are capable of detecting chemical markers of cancer in human breath and stool samples. With very little training, dogs are able to idenitfy the presence of cancer, and often times the type of cancer as well. It looks like the diagnosis has gone to the dogs!
