2ⁿᵈ Edition of the Cancer R&D World Conference 2026

Abstract

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, primarily due to late-stage detection. Current diagnostic methods are often invasive, costly, and contribute to delayed diagnoses. Exhaled human breath presents a promising, non-invasive, and rapid alternative for early lung cancer detection, as it contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some of which serve as potential biomarkers for the disease. Despite their sensitivity and quick response, existing polymer- and metal oxide-based sensors face critical challenges, including high power consumption and poor selectivity. To address these limitations, this study proposes the development of a cost-effective, non-invasive sensor array utilizing carbon-based nanomaterials. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) combined with solid- phase microextraction (SPME), eleven VOCs have been identified as potential lung cancer biomarkers, with four selected to train the sensor array. The proposed design leverages the large surface area of nanomaterials to enhance selectivity and allows for operation at room temperature—ideal for real-world breath analysis. By overcoming the constraints of existing technologies, this sensor array offers a promising step toward establishing a new standard for lung cancer diagnostics through breath-based analysis.