Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer: GC/FT-ICR Mass Spectrometry and Canine Olfaction

OBJECTIVES:

Identify patterns of exhaled compounds in breath samples from patients with newly diagnosed ovarian epithelial cancer that are significantly and reproducibility different from those of healthy volunteers using gas chromatography Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (GC/FT-ICR MS).
Train five canines to discriminate between exhaled breath samples from patients with newly diagnosed ovarian epithelial cancer and healthy volunteers.
Use both canine olfaction and GC/FT-ICR MS to distinguish between exhaled breath samples from patients with newly diagnosed ovarian epithelial cancer and patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome or endometriosis.
Repeat breath sampling in patients with newly diagnosed ovarian epithelial cancer throughout the course of diagnosis and therapy.

OUTLINE: Exhaled breath samples are collected from patients and healthy volunteers. The samples are analyzed by gas chromatography Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (GC/FT-ICR MS) to determine chemical compositions, identities, and predictive patterns of biomarkers in exhaled breath condensate. GC/FT-ICR MS and trained canine olfaction are used to distinguish between exhaled breath samples from patients with ovarian epithelial cancer, patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome or endometriosis, and healthy volunteers.

Patients and healthy volunteers complete questionnaires about BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 status (if known), alcohol use, smoking (including duration and type of cigarettes), physical activity (duration and type), socioeconomic status, education, county of residence, age at menopause (if applicable), age at menarche, presence of first- and second-degree family history of breast cancer or ovarian epithelial cancer, body mass index (height and weight), and co-morbidities.