Innovative Breath Test Shows Promise in Detecting Blood Cancers

Recent research conducted by Queen Mary University of London highlights the potential of using breath analysis as a non-invasive method to detect blood cancers. Molecules exhaled during breathing may carry specific biomarkers indicative of malignancies, opening the door for rapid and affordable diagnostic tools.

Each year in the UK, approximately 40,000 individuals are diagnosed with blood cancer, with around 16,000 fatalities. Diagnosing these cancers can be particularly challenging because early symptoms like fatigue and weight loss are nonspecific, and traditional diagnostic procedures such as imaging scans or biopsies may be costly, invasive, or difficult to access, especially in remote or resource-limited settings.

The new study focused on analyzing the chemical composition of exhaled breath from patients with blood cancer and healthy individuals. Using advanced breathalyzer technology—specifically, Breath Biopsy developed by Owlstone Medical—the team collected and examined breath samples from 46 cancer patients and 28 controls. They employed mass spectrometry to identify a wide array of molecular fragments in the breath.

Findings revealed that individuals with high-grade lymphoma, an aggressive form of blood cancer affecting the lymphatic system, exhibited significantly elevated levels of certain molecules in their breath. These molecules are linked to oxidative stress, a process where cellular fats are damaged—a hallmark associated with cancer development.

What makes this approach particularly promising is its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and portability. Unlike conventional diagnostic tools, breath tests could be implemented anywhere in the world, making them ideal for low-resource settings such as rural areas or developing countries. Dr. John Riches, a clinical researcher involved in the study, envisions a future where doctors can perform quick breath tests in clinics, obtaining results within seconds without the need for expensive equipment.

Further research aims to understand the biological mechanisms behind the production of these molecules and determine which specific types of blood cancer are most reliably detected through breath analysis. This will facilitate the development of more precise and sensitive tests, potentially reducing breath collection time from ten minutes to just a few seconds.

Overall, this groundbreaking work paves the way for a new era in blood cancer diagnostics—one that is fast, non-invasive, and accessible globally.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-blood-cancers.html