Breath Analysis In Esophageal Cancer: The evolution towards minimally invasive patient-tailored diagnostics

Lung cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers in the world with still a high mortality rate because of late diagnoses. This is frequently related to late physical symptoms. Currently, good and efficient screening tools are not yet available. However, early detection has the advantage that patients have a higher chance of complete cure, by means of minimally invasive surgery with reduced morbidity. This research project will involve the analysis of exhaled air in order to provide early diagnosis of lung cancer on the one hand, and early detection of relapse on the other. This will be done through the detections of individual or patterns of volatile organic compounds, specific proteins and DNA/mutations such as the KRAS mutation. Detection of specific biomarkers would allow the development of devices that can be widely used in the screening of high risk patients in a minimally invasive way.