Volatile organic compounds in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma-An in vitro pilot study

Abstract

Owing to the lack of specific symptoms, diagnosis of head and neck squamous cellcarcinoma (HNSCC) may be delayed. We evaluated volatile organic compounds intumor samples from patients suffering from HNSCC and tested the hypothesis thatthere is a characteristic altered composition in the headspace of HNSCC comparedwith control samples from the same patient with normal squamous epithelium. Theseresults provide the basis for future noninvasive breath analysis in HNSCC. Headspaceair of suspected tumor and contralateral control samples in 20 patients were ana-lyzed using ion-mobility spectrometry. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed in16 patients. In total, we observed 93 different signals in headspace measurements.Squamous cell carcinomas revealed significantly higher levels of volatile cyclohexanol(0.54 ppbv, 25th to 75th percentiles 0.35–0.86) compared with healthy squamousepithelium (0.24 ppbv, 25th to 75th percentiles 0.12–0.3;p< 0.001). In conclusion,head and neck squamous cell carcinoma emitted significantly higher levels of volatilecyclohexanol in headspace compared with normal squamous epithelium. These find-ings form the basis for future breath analysis for diagnosis, therapy control and thefollow-up of HNSSC to improve therapy and aftercare.