Research study underway in Portsmouth to help detect lung cancer earlier and faster
A research study has been launched in with the aim of detecting lung cancer more quickly
A new study is under way in Portsmouth to help detect lung cancer earlier through the use of a breathalyser.
The VICTORY2 study, launched at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) which runs Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham, will analyse chemicals in patients breath in the hope that it will enable them to diagnose lung conditions more quickly, including cancer.
It follows on from earlier research known as VICTORY which were described as having promising results in identifying conditions such as pneumonia and lung cancer using breath analysis. In the latest study, researchers will use a device called a Inflammacheck which measures a range of markers in the breath, including hydrogen peroxide, carbon dioxide patterns, temperature, and humidity.
Dr Laura Wiffen, Respiratory Research Fellow and one of the Principal Investigators at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, said: "The idea behind this study is that different lung conditions leave distinct signatures in the breath. By analysing those markers, we can build a breath 'fingerprint' that helps us identify what might be happening in the lungs.
"If successful, this technology could help us detect lung cancer much earlier and support faster diagnosis for patients."
Researchers will be recruiting patients who are undergoing investigations for possible lung cancers as well as people who are healthy or have other lung conditions. Patients will be required to breathe normally into the device for a few minutes with only one sample required.
While currently lung cancer diagnosis often occurs at a later stage, as symptoms such as persistent coughs and breathlessness can be mistaken for other conditions, if this test enables earlier diagnosis then PHU state it could make a “significant difference to treatment and outcomes”.
Professor Anoop J Chauhan MBE, Chief Research Officer, and Chief Investigator added: "Many people are diagnosed with lung cancer at a point where treatment options can be limited. Our aim is to develop a simple test that could help identify patients earlier and guide them more quickly onto the right diagnostic pathway."
The study is funded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and will run at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust alongside partner sites in Manchester and Stoke.