In a new study published in the journal Nanomedicine researchers showed that a new device distinguishes between volatile organic compounds in the exhaled breath of cancer patients from those of a control group without cancer. Subjects exhaled into a bag that separated superficial exhaled breath from that originated deeper in the lungs and then analyzed the deeper breath using an array of gold nanoparticle sensors.
The metabolism of lung cancer patients is different from the metabolism of those without cancer and consequently, the molecules making up the expired air are also different. Using gold nanoparticles to trap and define molecules in exhaled air the new device can tell if the lung is cancerous, and whether it is small cell or non-small cell, adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.
The researchers say the device could be used to diagnose lung cancer and also to look at differences over time to determine if a treatment is effective. The device would also reduce cost of diagnoses and increase the efficacy of diagnosis because, for example, one previous study of 53,000 subjects found that using low-dose chest CT scans to detect lung cancer gave a near 95 percent false positive. Thus, the new device has hope for better diagnosing of lung cancer.

A new study published in the journal Molecular Carcinogenesis concluded that silibinin, a major component of milk thistle, stopped the spread of lung cancer in mice lung cancer cells.
The researchers explained how it works as follows. In a cell there may be a chair of signals, one leading to the next, to the next and eventually to an end product. It is possible to eliminate the end product by breaking a signaling chain in the above process. The end product is COX2 and iNOS and are enzymes involved the inflammatory response to perceived wounds and both can aid tumor growth. Further back in the signaling process leading to these unwanted enzymes are STAT1 and STAT3 that allow the blueprint of DNA to bind with proteins that continue the signaling cascade leading eventually to the production of COX2 and iNOS and the growth of lung tumors. By intervening to stop STAT1 and STAT3 you interfere with the chain and the end result of COX2 and iNOS and the development of lung tumors. The researchers found that silibinin, a derivative of milk thistle, was able to do this. Compared to the multi-million dollar drugs that interfere with these and other parts of the chain, the naturally occuring silibinin blocked the expression of COX2 and iNOS and also the migration of existing lung cancer cells. The researchers stated “What we show is that STAT1 and STAT3 may be promising therapeutic targets in the treatment of lung cancer , no matter how you target them. And also that naturally derived products like silibinin may be as effective as today’s best treatments.”

A new study reported by DiabeticLive.com and published in the November issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology concluded that having diabetes improves the chances of survival of patients diagnosed with lung cancer. Using data from 3 studies the researchers analyzed a cohort of 1,677 patients with lung cancer within a clearly defined geographical area with a large and stable population. The relationship between lung cancer, diabetes and survival were analyzed.
Findings demonstrated that lung cancer patients who had diabetes had higher survival rates than lung cancer patients without diabetes. These rates were as follows: At the one year mark, survival of those with lung cancer and diabetes was 43% compared to 28% in those with lung cancer only: at two years the rates were 19% verses 11 %, and at 3 years were 3% verses 1%. The research team stated that “the fact that patients with diabetes mellitus showed a lower frequency of metastatic disease may partly explain the survival benefits in patients with diabetes mellitus because the majority of the patients with lung cancer die of metastasis and not of the primary tumor.” However, as we adjust for stage of disease in our analysis this potential advantage can hardly explain the observed benefit in patients with diabetes mellitus.” In addition increased survival was demonstrated in one study where all patients had advanced lung cancer.
The researchers did not discuss the exact cause of the relationship, stated the relationship warrented further study, and recommended against withholding standard cancer treatment in patients who have both lung cancer and diabetes.

In a new study published in Nature Nanotechnology the researchers discussed a possible new screening test for lung cancer that would identify cases at an earlier stage than is now possible. They used blood plasma samples to detect a change in a specific small RNA (ribonucleic acid) molecule that is often elevated in patients with lung cancer. Putting an extract of the blood plasma through a tiny hole in a thin membrane that is just big enough for a single molecule to pass, and applying an ionic current they could measure changes in the current that occur when molecules associated with lung cancer are present. The altered current acts as a signal related to lung cancer according to the researcher. “This technology could possibly be used in the future to detect other cancer types as well as other types of diseases with specific DNA and RNA in the blood” stated the researcher.

A recent study published in online Cancer: Journal of the American Cancer Association concluded that smokers who smoke their first cigarette shortly after they wake up in the morning may have a higher risk of lung and head and neck cancers than those who smoke later.
The study included 4,775 lung cancer cases and 2,835 controls and all were regular smokers. Those smoking 31 to 60 minutes after waking were 1.31 times more likely to develop lung cancer than those who smoked more than 60 minutes after waking. In addition, those who smoked within 30 minutes after waking were 1.79 times more likely to develop lung cancer.
The researchers also analyzed 1,055 head and neck cancer cases and 795 controls who had a history of smoking. Individuals who smoked 31 to 60 minutes after waking 1.42 times more likely to develop head and neck cancer than those who smoked more than 60 minutes after waking. In addition, those who smoked within 30 minutes were 1.59 times more likely to develop head and neck cancer. Thus, the researchers concluded that the need to smoke immediately after waking in the morning may increase a smokers chances of getting cancer.

A new research study published in the European Respiratory Journal concluded that early lung cancer in patients may be identified using sniffer dogs. Lung cancer is difficult to detect at an early stage when survival rates are higher so this finding could save lives.

The study assessed whether of not sniffer dogs could identify a VOC (volitile organic compound) in the breath of lung cancer patients. A series of studies were carried out to determine whether or not dogs could reliably identify lung cancer compared with volunteers with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or healthy individuals. Dogs were specifically trained and 220 volunteers who were healthy or had lung cancer or COPD were used. Dogs successfully identified 71 lung cancer samples out of a possible 100, and 372 samples out of a possible 400 who did not have lung cancer. They also detected lung cancer independently of COPD and tobacco smoke. Thus the researchers concluded that results confirmed that there is a lung cancer marker that is independent of COPD and also detectable in the presence of tobacco smoke. More research is planned to identify the specific compounds observed in the exhaled breath of patients.

A new study reported in the July 25, 2011 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science concluded that those who travel down gravel roads may be exposed to erionite in the gravel from the resultant dust and if breathed daily are at increased risk of developing mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer. Erionite, a natural mineral, has fibers that are physically similar to asbestos.

Researchers compared erionite in a setting in the United States with Turkish villages where there are high rates of mesothelioma. The airborne concentrations of erionite, the chemical composition, and biological activity were measured. In mice studies, when injected with the mineral from the United States, inflammation and abnormal cell growth resulted and are precursors to mesothelioma. Analysis showed no difference in chemical composition or fiber size between the samples from North Dakota and the Turkish towns and the airborne levels were comparable. Based upon these results “there is concern for increased risk of mesothelioma in North Dakota” according to the researcher. He further commented that because of the long latency period between exposure to eriotite and contracting the disease and the relative recent history of mining erionite he anticipated an increase in this disease in the future. .

The National Cancer Institute reporting on their National Lung Cancer Screening Trial and published in the New England Journal of Medicine stated that those in their heavy smokers sample who had CT screening had a 20 percent lower death rate than those having x-rays for screening. The trial included 33 sites and over 53,000 current or former “heavy smokers” who were between the ages of 55 and 74. Individuals were randomly assigned to receive either a chest x-ray or CT scan annually for three years starting in the years 2002 to 2004. They were monitored for five years following these annual screenings. Heavy smokers was defined as either a former heavy smoker within the past 15 years or a current smoker with at least a 30 pack year history of smoking calculated by multiplying the number of packs per day by the number of years smoked. A 30 pack year was equivalent to a pack a day for 30 years of 2 packs a day for 15 years.
The date continues to be analyzed to answer some questions raised such as cost-effectiveness because the CT scans produced many false positives. In addition, more research is planned on the value of Ct scans for detecting lung cancer early.

Research presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2011 International Conference concluded that a minimally invasive test using cells from the interior of the nose might be useful in detecting lung cancer at an early stage. The earlier studies used gene expression difference in cells in the bronchial airway to identify lung cancer in the early stages. Using this model the researchers developed a hypothesis that “the upper airway epithelium of smokers with lung cancer displays a cancer-specific gene expression pattern, and that this airway gene expression signature reflects the changes that occur in lung tissue.”
Nasal epithelial cells were collected from 33 smokers who were undergoing medically-indicated bronchoscopies for suspected lung cancer. From this group 11 had benign disease, and 22 had lung cancer. Brushing were taken from the left and right nostril and profiled on microarrays, a process for studying gene expression change, to determine genes that differed in their expression between those with lung cancer and those with benign disease. One hundred seventy genes were discovered that differentially expressed between the two groups of patients. The researchers stated that results show an initial indication that simple nasal brushings could offer an alternative to lung biopsies or other invasive techniques used currently to diagnose lung cancer. A large study to validate the results from this pilot study is planned.

A new study at the University of Bonn, Germany published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research said researchers have demonstrated that a person’s blood demonstrates whether or not he/she has lung cancer. Scientist have discovered over 480 molecules whose blood concentration changes when an individual develops lung cancer. These molecules are present in the blood in either increased or decreased amounts. The researchers stated “In lung cancer patients, typical patterns which can be detected with a measuring program thus emerge.” Noted changes also occur even when the tumor is in an early stage of development. Further work is ongoing to develop a screening test that may determine with a high degree of certainty whether or not a patient has lung cancer.