Genetically-encoded volatile synthetic biomarkers for breath-based cancer detection
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsOphir Vermesh, Aloma L. D'Souza, Israt Shamima Alam, Sanjiv Sam Gambhir
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Abstract
Genetically-encoded volatile synthetic biomarkers and methods for detection of various cancers in a subject are provided. In various aspects, embodiments provide compositions for breath-based cancer detection comprising at least one nucleic acid molecule encoding a synthase that catalyzes production of said volatile organic biomarker. The invention also provides devices, such as an electronic nose device, portable electronic nose device, and/or breath analyzer, for breath-based cancer detection comprising said compositions and at least one analyzer.
Claims18
A composition, comprising:
- a nucleic acid molecule encoding an exogenous synthase, wherein the exogenous synthase expresses preferentially in cancer cells compared to noncancerous cells and catalyzes production of a volatile organic compound, and wherein the volatile organic compound is not endogenously produced.
The composition as set forth in claim 8, wherein the vector comprises at least an adenovirus, a retrovirus, an adeno-associated virus, a herpes virus, a poxvirus, a vaccinia virus, a lentivirus, or any combination thereof.
A breath-based method of detecting cancer in a subject in need thereof, comprising:
- (a) administering to the subject at least one composition, wherein the at least one composition comprises a nucleic acid molecule encoding an exogenous synthase, wherein the exogenous synthase expresses preferentially in cancer cells compared to noncancerous cells and catalyzes production of a volatile organic compound, and wherein the volatile organic compound is not produced endogenously in the subject;
- (b) capturing breath exhaled from the subject;
- (c) analyzing the exhaled breath for the volatile organic compound;
- (d) comparing the amount of the volatile organic compound in the exhaled breath to a comparator;
- and
- (e) determining the subject has cancer when the amount of the volatile organic compound in the exhaled breath is increased compared to a comparator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.