Volatile Organic Compound

The goal of this clinical trial is to develop a new cancer diagnostic and prognostic tool based on the dynamic and non-invasive detection of an exogenous volatile molecule, i.e., ethanol, from patients' samples. Patients' blood plasma will be analyzed with a mixture of volatile organic compound-based probes, each targeting a specific glycosidase. The presence of a given glycosidase in a blood sample would thus be revealed by the detection of an ethanol isotope in the gas phase. 3 groups of patients with localized cancer (breast, prostate, pancreas) will be enrolled, as well as 1 group of patient without any cancer (control group). For the patients, two 5ml plasma samples will be collected, one before and one after surgery for localized cancers. For healthy volunteers, only one 5ml plasma sample will be collected. The primary objective will be to compare the levels of glycosidases measured in the blood of patients followed for localized cancer and referred for first surgery compared to control patients without cancer.

Cancer of the stomach and oesophagus is among the world's top five cancers. Survival rates are very poor as the disease presents late and early symptoms are non-specific. The study team has developed a non-invasive test for cancers of the stomach and oesophagus based on the detection of volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath. These compounds are known to be produced by both cancers as well as cancer associated bacteria within the gut. The proposed innovation is to improve the accuracy of this test by investigating whether simple metabolic substrates can increase the production of these volatile organic compounds by both the tumour and its associated bacteria.

This study aims to develop a non-invasive and rapid diagnostic technology for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) by analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath. Clinically confirmed patients will be divided into three groups (no bleeding, minor bleeding, major bleeding) based on endoscopic findings. VOC profiles will be analyzed to construct a predictive model, validated for sensitivity and specificity (both targets ≥0.7). This approach addresses the limitations of endoscopy in emergency or resource-limited settings, improving diagnostic efficiency and reducing mortality.