VISON; Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Volatile Organic Compounds as Breath Biomarkers in Squamous Oesophageal Neoplasms
IRAS ID
335269
Contact name
Rinat Ezra
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Oesophageal squamous cell cancer (OSCC) is a cancer that grows in the food pipe and affects up to 2,000 people in the UK every year. Most patients are diagnosed when the cancer has spread to other body parts (advanced stage). As a result, the five-year survival is less than 20%. In comparison, when diagnosed early, nearly three out of four patients survive more than five years, indicating that early diagnosis improves survival.
There are numerous challenges in detecting OSCC early. Firstly, symptoms of early cancer are non-specific and there is no intermediate triage test to guide future investigation. Secondly, an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) and biopsy is the reference diagnostic test; however, it is an invasive and uncomfortable investigation with associated complications. Lastly, according to the NICE guidelines, OGD is only offered to people with high suspicion of cancer. Collectively, these factors result in diagnostic delays.
Our solution is to develop a non-invasive breath test for detection of OSCC. The breath test is based on detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath.
The ViSON study will be a multi-centre case-control study with prospective data collection. The aim is to identify breath VOCs that serve as biomarkers for OSCC and develop a breath test. Once developed and validated, the test will be offered by GPs as a triage test to patients with non-specific symptoms. Patients who test positive will be referred for an urgent endoscopy whereas those who test negative have a low risk of cancer and can be reassured.
The breath test will offer a simple, quick, and non-invasive solution to early detection of OSCC and improve overall survival.
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/1300
Date of REC Opinion
17 Nov 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion