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: Luca Lavra, Alexandro Catini, Alessandra Ulivieri, Rosamaria Capuano, Leila Baghernajad Salehi, Salvatore Sciacchitano, Armando Bartolazzi, Sara Nardis, Roberto Paolesse, Eugenio Martinelli, Corrado Di Natale
• Journal: Scientific reports (Sci Rep) Vol. 5 Pg. 13246 (Aug 25 2015) ISSN: 2045-2322 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 26304457 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Volatile Organic Compounds

Topics

• Biomarkers (analysis)
• Breast Neoplasms (chemistry, diagnosis)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Electronic Nose
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (methods)
• Humans
• MCF-7 Cells
• Odorants (analysis)
• Reproducibility of Results
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Volatile Organic Compounds (analysis)