Use of Gas-Sensor Array Technology in Lung Cancer Diagnosis

Abstract

Gas-sensor array technology, which has been much utilized in the field of food technology by the name of 'electronic nose' is drawing attention in diagnosing lung cancer based on the analysis of the exhaled human breath. Much understanding has been accomplished about the composition of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the human exhaled breath, in spite of some variations depending on research groups due mainly to lack of the standardization of the sensing procedures. Since VOCs may be produced during the process of cellular metabolism, difference in the cellular metabolism between healthy cells and lung cancer cells are expected to be reflected on the composition variation of the exhaled VOCs. Several studies have attempted to apply the gas-sensor array technology to lung cancer analysis using many different types of sensors including metal oxide, carbon black-polymer composite, surface acoustic wave, and gold nanoparticles. In this mini-review VOC as biomarkers, sensor array technology and application of the array technology for the diagnosis of cancer disease have been described.