Breath sniffing device may predict cancer drug success
NCT ID NCT04146064
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a simple breath test can predict if cancer patients will respond to immunotherapy drugs. Researchers used an electronic nose device to analyze breath samples from 190 patients with lung, melanoma, kidney, bladder, or head and neck cancers. The goal is to develop a non-invasive, inexpensive way to select the right treatment for each patient.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- breathprint analysis using an electronic nose device
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this breath test could help doctors quickly and cheaply identify which patients are likely to benefit from immunotherapy, avoiding ineffective treatments.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage, observational study. The breath test may not prove accurate enough for routine use, and results may not apply to all cancer types or treatments.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
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