Researchers develop respiratory screening test to detect early-stage lung cancer

On the medical front.

Researchers here are working on a screening program that can detect early-stage lung cancer simply by analyzing a person's breath.

Cha Yun-kyung explains.

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, or ETRI, has come up with an artificial intelligence deep learning system to detect early-stage lung cancer.

When a potential patient exhales into a vinyl mesh that acts as an initiator system sensor, it can determine if cancer cells are prevalent in 20 minutes by running the exhaled air through 70 primary sensors that can detect volatile organic compounds. The system is cheaper and less time-consuming compared to X-rays, CT scans, or blood tests.

"The system is noninvasive, which allows us to detect cancer in an easier way than radiation exposure or blood sampling."

ETRI has undertaken cooperative research over the past 10 years with Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, confirming that the screening test is 95 percent accurate by analyzing data from 180 samples.

"The meaning of this research is that it actively found biomarkers compared to other institutes. I believe that there should be more cooperative research with much more data."

Researchers mentioned that they will undertake additional clinical trials of more than 1-thousand patients to collect more data. Also, they will secure reproducibility and reliability of the screening test through collaboration with national and international researchers.

Researchers are also planning to apply the screening test system to other cancers, such as stomach and colorectal, through additional research.

Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.