Odour sampling techniques for skin cancer sensing
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cancer Sensing: Evaluation of odour sampling techniques to support the non-invasive early detection of skin cancer – proof of concept study
IRAS ID
275940
Contact name
Mohammad Reza Sahandi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bournemouth University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
A non-invasive technique based on cancer odour (volatile compounds emitted from skin cancers) will be investigated. The technique can potentially be used in primary care for the provisional detection of skin cancer. This study will investigate two techniques to capture and analyse the emitted Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from skin cancers. This can be accomplished via: an adsorptive patch, covering skin areas for a period, before extracting the VOCs for analysis; or via Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (SPME) which involves a chemically modified fibre placed above the skin, designed to collect emitted VOCs. The odour components are analysed at granular level to identify the VOCs patterns (signatures) of cancerous skins.
The study will answer the question of whether skin odour VOCs can be successfully collected using a patch technology and a SPME device, and will provide evidence on which technique is better suited to the application, judged on the number and concentration of VOCs collected. The study will also provide preliminary evidence on whether there is a measurable difference in the skin VOC profile from cancer lesions, compared to non skin cancer sites, to aid in future use of the technique to identify skin cancer.The charity AboutFace are funding the study, and we are recruiting healthy participants (not diagnosed with skin cancer) from Bournemouth University, and skin cancer patients recruited from Poole and Dorset County Hospitals.Skin cancer patients (n=20) will each donate 4 skin odour samples: two patch collected samples (one from skin cancer lesion, one from skin not affected by skin cancer lesion); and two SPME samples (one from skin cancer lesion, one from skin not affected by skin cancer lesion). Patch samples can be collected simultaneously (30 minutes total time required). SPME samples will be collected sequentially (at 30 minutes per sampling). Study duration is 6 months.REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0899
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jul 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion