Novel biomarker detection from volatile chemical analyses of urine. v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Novel biomarker detection from analyses of volatile organic compounds released by urine, using the Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectometry, gas chromotography mass spectometry, and spectroscopy techniques.
IRAS ID
209525
Contact name
Mark Kitchen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Keele University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
The multiple causes and risk factors for bladder and prostate cancers mean that our understanding of these conditions is not complete. Furthermore, the methods and tests available for the detection of ('diagnosis'), and predicting disease course ('prognosis')in these conditions typically require invasive procedures such as biopsies or surgery. Early and non-invasive diagnosis and the ability to predict clinical outcomes are therefore crucial to improving patient care.
This proposed project will analyse human urine samples for patterns of certain substances ("volatile organic compounds") that may provide further clues into the biochemical development of urological disease, and importantly, that may be exploited for early and non-invasive diagnosis and/or prognosis across multiple conditions, but specifically for this project, bladder and prostate cancers.
A technique which has great potential in the early diagnosis of these conditions is Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS). SIFT-MS can carry out accurately, simultaneously, and in real time, analyses of urine samples for numerous substances('Volatile Organic Compounds' – 'VOCs'), down to very small concentrations. Furthermore, once ‘signatures’ of 'VOCs' are established in normal and each disease/condition, sample evaluation is rapid (minutes), with minimal costs and sample preparation required.
In this project, we will also use other techniques (gas chromatography mass spectrometry and spectroscopy techniques), which are already available in our laboratories, for cross-validation and confirmation of our results.
In summary, we intend to study the 'VOCs' released by urine from patients with bladder and prostate cancer, and compare these 'VOC' profiles/signatures with those from healthy patients. Such chemical analyses of urine samples should provide a greater understanding across the conditions studied. We hope that this will provide information for us to identify cancer at earlier stages, and better counsel patients about their individual risks, i.e provide precision medicine, which we hope will be translated into improved outcomes.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0328
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion