Identification of Volatile Markers of Colorectal Cancer from Tumor Tissues Using Volatilomic Approach

Linda Mezmale (Corresponding Author), Marcis Leja, Anna Marija Lescinska, Andrejs Pčolkins, Elina Kononova, Inga Bogdanova, Inese Polaka, Ilmars Stonans, Arnis Kirsners, Clemens Ager, Pawel Mochalski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The human body releases numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through tissues and various body fluids, including breath. These compounds form a specific chemical profile that may be used to detect the colorectal cancer CRC-related changes in human metabolism and thereby diagnose this type of cancer. The main goal of this study was to investigate the volatile signatures formed by VOCs released from the CRC tissue. For this purpose, headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was applied. In total, 163 compounds were detected. Both cancerous and non-cancerous tissues emitted 138 common VOCs. Ten volatiles (2-butanone; dodecane; benzaldehyde; pyridine; octane; 2-pentanone; toluene; p-xylene; n-pentane; 2-methyl-2-propanol) occurred in at least 90% of both types of samples; 1-propanol in cancer tissue (86% in normal one), acetone in normal tissue (82% in cancer one). Four compounds (1-propanol, pyridine, isoprene, methyl thiolacetate) were found to have increased emissions from cancer tissue, whereas eleven showed reduced release from this type of tissue (2-butanone; 2-pentanone; 2-methyl-2-propanol; ethyl acetate; 3-methyl-1-butanol; d-limonene; tetradecane; dodecanal; tridecane; 2-ethyl-1-hexanol; cyclohexanone). The outcomes of this study provide evidence that the VOCs signature of the CRC tissue is altered by the CRC. The volatile constituents of this distinct signature can be emitted through exhalation and serve as potential biomarkers for identifying the presence of CRC. Reliable identification of the VOCs associated with CRC is essential to guide and tune the development of advanced sensor technologies that can effectively and sensitively detect and quantify these markers.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5990
JournalMolecules
Volume28
Issue number16
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords*

  • colorectal cancer
  • colorectal tissue
  • gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
  • volatile organic compounds

Field of Science*

  • 3.2 Clinical medicine
  • 1.4 Chemical sciences

Publication Type*

  • 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database

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