Cancer Diagnostic Tool based on Volatile Organic Compounds

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancers, which is affecting men worldwide as the second most prevalent malignancy. In general, a combination of various diagnostic methods, from digital rectal examination (DRE), serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) to trans-rectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) prostate biopsy, are applied in detection of prostate cancer. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath, urine and blood have shown to be potentially new tumor markers in prostate cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer patients. On-going efforts are focused on identifying the specific VOCs as the biomarkers and their metabolic pathways in human. Chao Zhang czhang3@utep.edu 915-747-6717