Potential biomarkers of skin cancer diagnosis revealed through volatile metabolomics – A prospective research study.

Abstract

Introduction: Skin cancer sites are known to release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and these compounds can be collected and analysed to aid in the chemical profiling of skin cancers. Patients and methods: We designed a new solid phase micro extraction (SPME) adaptation which allows portable collection of skin VOCs using a combination of direct contact and headspace collection modes. VOC samples were collected from 20 clinically diagnosed skin cancers, a non-affected area of each patient as a control, and samples from a volunteer group as a separate control. Results: Our new device adaptation of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) / divinylbenzene (DVB) SPME was found to retain a variety of VOCs, and showed superior VOC collecting performance compared to other techniques. GCMS analysis revealed specific VOCs present in skin cancers not demonstrated in non-affected areas on healthy volunteers. Conclusion: Hexadecanoic acid was the most frequently discovered compound in the skin cancer group. Our new approach to SPME collection of VOCs shows promise for future study of VOC skin cancer biomarkers.