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

2. 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

3. 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!

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 1. Canine Detection: Proof of Principle

8. 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

9. 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

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

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

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

13. 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.

14. Follow our Progress…
@MonellSc
MonellCenter