A novel non-invasive method for detection of breast and ovarian cancer using volatile organic compounds from urine sample

Abstract The present study describes a novel method for early diagnosis of breast and ovarian cancer from urine samples using a non-invasive method by determining the level of the selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this study, solvent (hexane) was used for the extraction of VOCs and further detected using GC-MS. Total twenty-six compounds were analyzed, out of which, six (Naphthalene; 2-methylOctacosane; Benzaldehyde 2,5dimethyl; 11-Methyldodecanol; Heptane 2,4 dimethyl, and 2,4-Dimethylhept-1-ene) were found to be uniquely present in breast and ovarian cancer patients. These six VOCs could be used as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of breast and ovarian cancer. Out of these six, two compounds (2-methylOctacosane and 11-Methyldodecanol) were detected for the first time in the aforementioned cancer patients. Quantitation of the remaining twenty VOCs common to both control individuals and subjects revealed significant log2 fold change (P-value<0.05) range from-0.7 to 1.4. The maximum decrease in the concentration level was observed in pentadecane and the maximum increase was observed in trans-1, 2-Diethyl cyclopentane in cancer subjects as compared to the control individuals. The present study may be used to identify these compounds simultaneously from the urine that are potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of breast and ovarian cancer.