Ovarian cancer (OVCA) is difficult to detect due to the absence of distinct symptoms. There are no reliable diagnostic tests for this type of cancer, and most patients are diagnosed in later stages of the disease, reducing treatment options and leading to poor prognosis. We hypothesized that alterations in cellular metabolism caused by the onset of cancer would create a distinguishable, unique odor signature and have examined this using biological, analytical and nano-sensing devices. Trained medical detection dogs are the biological sensors; they demonstrate the presence of a unique OVCA odor present in patients’ blood plasma. Solid-Phase Microextraction-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS) techniques identify the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the odor and demonstrate a significant quantitative variation in VOCs between cancer and control samples. An electronic nose fitted with DNA-coated carbon nanotubes (DNACNT) will be used for translation to practice. DNA-oligomer sequences are randomly chosen and provide the binding sites for VOCs. To provide greater sensor accuracy we are now attempting to isolate and identify the VOCs that constitute the OVCA odor, and determine if the VOCs collected by SPME are those detected by trained canines. We employ Micro-Preparative Gas Chromatography (MP-GC) techniques to collect GC eluants containing the plasma-derived VOCs. The MP-GC technique employs a gradient-cooled glass tube connected to the GC outlet to collect VOCs eluting from the GC. These tube-collected VOCs are presented back to the trained canines to judge their responses. Results strongly suggest that the VOCs eluting from 0-to-35 minutes in the chromatogram contain the “odor of OVCA.” The ultimate goal of our research is to create a DNACNT-enabled vapor sensor device that offers a reliable diagnostic system for OVCA at an early stage. Knowing the identity of the disease-specific VOCs will help design more specific and sensitive sensors and help save lives.

Volatile organic compounds associated with abnormal tissue growth: Ovarian cancer

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.