Odor-based Sensors for Ovarian Cancer Detection George Preti, Ph.D. Monell Chemical Senses Center

The Scent of Disease Before advanced medical techniques, physicians had to rely on their senses Many diseases became associated with their chief presenting symptom - a characteristic odor

BIG IDEA! Fast-growing cancer cells are metabolically different from healthy cells. Chemicals produced by cancer cells are different from those produced by healthy cells. This includes odor-producing chemicals. Use odor to detect ovarian cancer!

Ovarian Cancer: The “Silent Killer” 4th leading cause of cancer death in women Kills over 14,000 American women each year Early symptoms often mild and non-specific, making ovarian cancer difficult to detect when still treatable No screening technique available Stage I diagnosis: 5-year survival rate of 90-95% 77% diagnosed at advanced stage: 30% survival rate

BIG IDEA! Odor Sensors to Detect Ovarian Cancer Trained canines Analytical-organic chemistry Biologically-inspired DNA-coated carbon nanotube sensors

BIG IDEA! Research Approach Use each sensor to detect and identify the unique odor signature of blood plasma from patients: 1. ovarian cancer 2. benign tumors 3. healthy controls

1. Canine Detection: Proof of Principle

2. Analytical-Organic Chemistry: Identify Odor Biomarkers Odors: complex mixtures of many chemical compounds molecules must evaporate in air (volatile) 1. Collect volatiles 2. Identify chemical composition of volatiles

3. Translation to Practice: Create electronic nose using DNA-coated carbon nanotube sensors + Characteristic response to odors Response varies depending on the sequence of the DNA Sensitive, ppb detection level Response and recovery on the order of seconds Can resolve optical enantiomers Volatile compounds Single-stranded DNA 2. DNA self assembles on carbon nanotubes Our goal is to develop this electronic nose to detect ovarian cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage chip = actual device

Ovarian Cancer Detection: Results 1 Dogs reliably detect both pooled and individual plasma samples.

Ovarian Cancer Detection: Results 2 The pattern of plasma volatile compounds distinguishes healthy, benign and malignant groups.

Ovarian Cancer Detection: Results 3 E-nose clearly differentiates healthy, benign and malignant groups.

BIG IDEA! Conclusions & Promise Ovarian cancer cells have a unique odor signature due to a different pattern of odor chemicals. Our results show promise towards a clinical application for the early detection of ovarian cancer.

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