Title:Breath Analysis Using SIFT-MS to Assess Metabolic Status in Patients After Gastro-oesophageal Cancer Surgery- a Pilot Study
Volume: 9
Issue: 4
Author(s): Juzheng Huang, Sacheen Kumar, Piers R. Boshier, Stephanie Wakefield, Julia R. Cushnir and George B. Hanna
Affiliation:
Keywords:
SIFT-MS, breath analysis, gastro-oesophageal cancer.
Abstract: Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) has been applied to determine the concentration of selected
metabolites in exhaled breath in five patients before and after gastro-oesophageal cancer surgery. Eight metabolites
for exhaled breath stored in Nalophan® bags were specifically investigated using H3O+ and NO+ in the Multiple Ion Mode
(MIM) of the SIFT-MS. No significant change is observed for propanol and acetic acid. Metabolites mean values are
found to increase for acetone and hexanoic acid in patients after surgery; ammonia, ethanol, hydrogen cyanide and isoprene
are found to decrease in the same patients. Mann-Whitney U test is also conducted for these eight metabolites in exhaled
breath samples before and after recovery from surgery. Hexanoic acid (p = 0.009) and isoprene (p = 0.016) are
found to be statistically significantly different. This study demonstrates SIFT-MS to be a promising technique applicable
in a clinical setting for the analysis of exhaled breath metabolites in patients with gastro-oesophageal cancer.
