PANACEA

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  PAN Alimentary Cancer Exhaled breath Analysis (PANACEA)

• IRAS ID

  337943

• Contact name

  George Hanna

• Contact email

  g.hanna@imperial.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Imperial College London

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 5 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Each year in the United Kingdom there are over 44,000 deaths related to gastrointestinal (gut) cancers that include oesophageal (food pipe), stomach, pancreas, liver and bowel cancers. These cancers are difficult to detect as the symptoms are similar to non-cancer conditions If diagnosed early, the majority of people can survive gastrointestinal cancer.

  Our proposed solution is a simple breath test for patients with relevant symptoms. Breath testing is quick, acceptable and can be offered directly by a GP. The breath samples are analysed for small molecules. These molecules provide early indicators of gastrointestinal cancer, to identify those who would benefit most from investigations. Picking up these cancers earlier will increase our chances of curing the disease.

  Aims
  We have previously identified breath molecules that are specific to gastrointestinal cancers. We aim to confirm these molecules and examine the accuracy of the breath test. We will also study how to introduce the test in primary care.

  Design and Methods
  Breath testing will be performed on at least 8,000 patients referred by GPs on suspected gastrointestinal cancer pathways. Patients will be followed up to determine whether they have gastrointestinal cancer or not.

  The breath test will take place in national NHS hospitals before patients undergo camera tests or scans. The breath test involves them breathing out into a bag allowing the breath to be collected into special tubes. The breath samples in the tubes will be analysed in our laboratory using a special technique (mass spectrometry). We will confirm which molecules in patients’ breath samples correctly identify cancer.

  We will engage with key members to implement the breath test in primary care and NHS and assess the affordability of the breath test.
  

• REC name

  South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/SC/0033

• Date of REC Opinion

  4 Feb 2025

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion