Trial launched to identify breath biomarkers for early cancer detection

Diagnostics company, Owlstone Medical, and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) have initiated a trial that is focused on the identification of breath biomarkers for the early detection and diagnosis of various cancers.

The PAN Cancer trial is being conducted in collaboration with a team of leading cancer researchers at the CRUK Cambridge Centre, the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It is aimed at developing breath biopsy tests for the early detection of bladder, breast, head and neck, kidney, oesophageal, pancreatic and prostate cancers and brain tumours. Ultimately, it is hoped that these tests will be able to detect cancer much earlier, when better treatment options are available and more lives can be saved.

“New tools that can help to diagnose cancer earlier are urgently needed and we are very pleased to collaborate with Owlstone Medical to evaluate Breath Biopsy for early detection,” said Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald, chief investigator. “The PAN Cancer trial forms part of our Early Detection Programme, a flagship initiative of the CRUK Cambridge Centre that aims to devise better means of detecting cancer and diagnosing it in the early stages, which can lead to improved outcomes for cancer patients.”

Owlstone Medical’s Breath Biopsy platform, to be used in the trial, captures volatile organic compounds in a breath sample and then analyses these for specific disease biomarkers. Patients with a suspected cancer diagnosis, who are referred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for clinical assessment as part of the standard NHS cancer care pathway, will be asked to give a breath sample in addition to routine tests.

These breath samples will be collected in clinic using the company’s ReCIVA Breath Sampler, before being shipped to the Breath Biopsy clinical laboratory for analysis at Owlstone Medical in Cambridge, UK. The trial will compare the breath samples of patients with, and without, cancer to assess whether it is possible to identify reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis of cancer in breath.

Billy Boyle, co-founder and CEO at Owlstone Medical, commented: “Positive results from the PAN Cancer trial could be game-changing in the fight against cancer: Breath Biopsy tests for cancer detection and diagnosis have the potential to greatly improve survival across a range of cancers. Our Breath Biopsy platform is already being assessed in large scale clinical trials for the non-invasive, early detection of lung and colon cancer, and it will be exciting to see how its use can be extended to other cancer types. Success in this study would make a real difference to the lives of millions of people, and supports our vision of saving 100,000 lives and $1.5 billion in healthcare costs.

“We are very proud to have the opportunity to work with these world leading research teams on this ground-breaking trial, which could have a great impact on improving cancer survival.”