PATHACOV: diagnosing cancer through a simple breath analysis
Imagine being able to screen for certain pathologies, including cancer, without needles, without X-rays, without invasive examinations. This is the ambition of the PATHACOV project (diagnosis of human pathologies through the analysis of volatile organic compounds in exhaled air).
Launched under the INTERREG France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen program, PATHACOV brought together researchers, hospitals, and laboratories from both sides of the Franco-Belgian border between 2018 and 2022.
Objective: to develop a portable, simple, and non-invasive tool capable of analyzing a patient's exhaled air to detect specific biomarkers for certain diseases, particularly bronchopulmonary cancer.
Our breath contains tiny molecules called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs vary according to the state of our cells and can reflect the presence of a pathology.
PATHACOV has worked on a matrix of sensors (nearly 100) capable of detecting these molecules, even at very low concentrations.
Each sensor is sensitive to a family of biomarkers.
The data is then analyzed by artificial intelligence algorithms capable of distinguishing a “healthy” profile from a “pathological” profile with a confidence index greater than 90%.
In summary: it is a true electronic nose applied to medical diagnosis.
The idea is appealing, but its realization is complex:
Exhaled air is very humid, which disrupts the sensors.
Biomarkers related to cancer are present at extremely low concentrations.
Each individual has a “respiratory fingerprint” influenced by their diet, environment, or lifestyle.
Despite these challenges, initial trials have shown that it is possible to recognize respiratory signatures related to cancer using this device.
PATHACOV is not yet a screening tool used in hospitals. But it opens an exciting path: that of early, rapid, painless, and accessible diagnosis for all.
In the long term, such devices could:
Screen for certain cancers at an earlier stage.
Monitor a patient's progress during treatment.
Reduce the need for heavy and costly examinations.
At Laboratory RENASCOR, we believe that the future of medicine will involve less invasive and more personalized approaches. PATHACOV perfectly illustrates this dynamic: exploiting subtle signals, invisible to the naked eye, to improve patient journeys.
Just as we work on post-cancer hair restoration, these innovations demonstrate that it is possible to restore patients' confidence, both in their bodies and in the medicine of tomorrow.
An innovative European project
How does it work?
Technical challenges
A step towards the future of diagnosis
The RENASCOR vision
