“BREATHALYSER” FOR LUNG CANCER TO GO ON TRIAL IN UK

Success of Trial Could Lead to Handheld Cancer Detecting Devices at Pharmacies, GP Surgeries

A “breathalyser” that is capable of diagnosing lung cancer will be used in two British hospitals later this year as part of a clinical trial. The device is the brainchild of engineer Billy Boyle who has a background in inventing detectors that seek out explosives, but turned his focus to medical applications when his wife was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2012. Diseases such as lung cancer create tiny but unique chemical traces. The LuCID (lung cancer indicator detection) system developed by Owlstone, the company Mr Boyle founded, analyses these unique chemical traces found in a person’s breath using spectrometry.

The advantages of identifying cancers before symptoms develop are well known, the stark difference between survival rates is clear to see, Stage 1 lung cancer 75 percent; Stage 4 is only five percent. Mr Boyle is confident his company will have proven systems within two years. He says they already have the technology that will allow them to place a small handheld device in a GP’s office. This would allow high risk patients to be routinely tested for cancers and other illnesses and thus raise early detection rates. Owlstone’s technology can also be applied to other illnesses, such a bowel cancer, asthma and tuberculosis.