Early diagnosis of cancers using urinary volatile compounds analysis

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K20652
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0702:Biology at cellular to organismal levels, and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Wataru 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 助教 (70908300)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 早期癌診断 / 尿揮発性成分 / 機械学習 / ガスクロマトグラム質量分析 / ガスセンサ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

There is no practical mass examination method for early detection of central nervous system (CNS) tumors. In this study, we demonstrate that urinary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are reliable biological analytes for early diagnosis of the CNS tumors. We have measured urinary VOCs by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with solid phase micro extractions (SPME). Machine learning-based analysis of the GC-MS data successfully discriminated a difference between the CNS tumors patients and healthy controls with 100% accuracy. Moreover, we identified and quantified 16 VOCs biomarker candidates that increased or decreased in urine of the patients. Finally, we distinguished the patients from the healthy controls with 78% accuracy using a compact-size chemical sensor system.

Free Research Field

ナノテク・材料

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

脳腫瘍は主に、患者に脳卒中などの症状が現れた後にMRI・CTなどの高価な画像診断法によって初めて発見され、発見時には治療困難な状態まで成長・拡散が進行している場合が多い。そのため、通常の健康診断で利用可能な低コスト・簡便・迅速な脳腫瘍診断ツールの開発が強く望まれている。本研究で示した小型ガスセンサを利用した尿揮発成分群分析による脳腫瘍診断手法は、この需要に当てはまる。また、本手法は、脳腫瘍に限らず様々な疾病に適用できる可能性がある。