Breath analysis by mass spectrometry: a new tool for breast cancer detection?

Breath analysis has received attention as a noninvasive diagnostic tool with increasing research into its potential usefulness. We are investigating the utility of the analysis of breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as an effective modality for breast cancer (BC) detection and monitoring by collecting breath samples with a simple portable device to determine whether BC patients have breath VOCs distinct from those in healthy volunteers. We prospectively enrolled 20 healthy volunteers and 20 newly diagnosed stage II-IV BC patients.