Simple breath test ‘can be used to detect colorectal cancer’

A simple breath analysis could potentially be a powerful tool in the screening and diagnosis of colorectal cancer, according to a new study.

Researchers based in Italy have collected exhaled breath samples from 37 patients with colorectal cancer and 41 healthy controls to examine the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with cancer.

Using a probabilistic neural network, the team was able to determine that colorectal cancer patients had a different selective VOC pattern compared with the control group.

This technique was able to identify patients with colorectal cancer with an accuracy of more than 75 percent, suggesting this method has considerable potential.

Dr Donato Altomare at the University Aldo Moro of Bari said: "The technique of breath sampling is very easy and non-invasive … Our study's findings provide further support for the value of breath testing as a screening tool."

Also known as bowel cancer, this disease is the third most common type of cancer in England, with the majority of cases developing among those aged 65 or above.