Comments on “Pilot Study: Detection of Gastric Cancer From Exhaled Air Analyzed With an Electronic Nose in Chinese Patients”

The aim of this pilot study is to investigate the ability of an electronic nose (e-nose) to distinguish malignant gastric histology from healthy controls in exhaled breath. In a period of 3 weeks, all preoperative gastric carcinoma (GC) patients (n = 16) in the Beijing Oncology Hospital were asked to participate in the study. The control group (n = 28) consisted of family members screened by endoscopy and healthy volunteers. The e-nose consists of 3 sensors with which volatile organic compounds in the exhaled air react. Real-time analysis takes place within the e-nose, and binary data are exported and interpreted by an artificial neuronal network. This is a self-learning computational system. The inclusion rate of the study was 100%. Baseline characteristics differed significantly only for age: the average age of the patient group was 57 years and that of the healthy control group 37 years ( P value = .000). Weight loss was the only significant different symptom ( P value = .040). A total of 16 patients and 28 controls were included; 13 proved to be true positive and 20 proved to be true negative. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 71%, with an accuracy of 75%. These results give a positive predictive value of 62% and a negative predictive value of 87%. This pilot study shows that the e-nose has the capability of diagnosing GC based on exhaled air, with promising predictive values for a screening purpose.

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A Pilot Study of Irinotecan Combined with 5-Fluorouracil and Leucovorin for the Treatment of Chinese Patients with Locally Advanced and Metastatic Gastric Cancer

Tumori Journal ◽

10.1177/030089160909500404 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 95 (4) ◽

pp. 432-437 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Qiu Li ◽

Jing Chen ◽

Xin Zhao ◽

Xude Yin ◽

Kai Mei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastric Cancer ◽

Overall Survival ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Partial Response ◽

Locally Advanced ◽

Metastatic Gastric Cancer ◽

Chinese Patients ◽

Grade 3 ◽

Anti Tumor Activity ◽

Comparative Trials

Aims and background The FOLFIRI regimen was evaluated for its anti-tumor activity and toxicity in Chinese patients with locally advanced and metastatic gastric cancer. Methods and study design Treatment consisted of irinotecan, 180 mg/m2 (90-min infusion), leucovorin, 200 mg/m2 (2-h infusion), followed by 5-fluorouracil, 400 mg/m2 (bolus), and then 5-fluorouracil, 600 mg/m2 (22-h continuous infusion) on days 1 and 2, every 14 days. Results Twenty-six patients, of whom 17 were pretreated, were included in the study. Partial response was observed in 9 patients (37.5%). The overall disease control rate was 83.3%. Median progression-free and overall survival was 6.8 and 11.2 months, respectively. Grade 3–4 neutropenia was observed in 6 patients (23.1%) and grade 2–3 diarrhea in 5 (19.2%). No treatment-related deaths occurred. Conclusions The results demonstrate that the FOLFIRI regimen is an active regimen with acceptable toxicity for Chinese patients with advanced and metastatic gastric cancer that merits further investigation in comparative trials.

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