Targeted breath analysis: exogenous volatile organic compounds (EVOC) as targeted metabolic probes in Breath Biopsy
Targeted breath analysis: exogenous volatile organic compounds (EVOC) as targeted metabolic probes in Breath Biopsy
Edoardo Gaude, Stefano Patassini, Jasper Boschmans, Morad K Nakhleh, Marc van der Schee*
Owlstone Medical Ltd., 183 Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge, CB4 0GJ, UK
Full Poster:
Abstract:
Breath research has almost invariably focussed on the identification of endogenous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as disease biomarkers. After five decades, there is no breath test measuring endogenous VOCs that is applied to the clinic. In this poster, we explore some of the factors that may have contributed to the current lack of clinical applications of breath endogenous VOCs. We discuss potential pitfalls of experimental design, analytical challenges, as well as considerations regarding the biochemical pathways that may impinge on the application of endogenous VOCs as specific disease biomarkers. We point towards several lines of evidence showing that breath analysis based on administration of exogenous compounds has been a more successful strategy, with several tests applied to the clinic, compared to measurement of endogenous VOCs. Finally, we propose a novel approach, based on the use of exogenous VOC (EVOC) probes as potential strategy to measure the activity of metabolic enzymes in vivo, as well as the function of organs, through breath analysis. We present longitudinal data showing high reproducibility in breath measurement of EVOC probes. We gathered data showing that administration of EVOC probes could help reduce interindividual variation in baseline population. EVOC strategies might help to reduce intra- and inter-individual variation and could herald a new wave of substrate-based breath tests, potentially bridging the gap between research tools and clinical applications.
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