Breath analysis to detect fungal infections in leukemia patients

Real-time Breath Analysis for the Detection of Invasive Fungal Infections in Neutropenic High-risk Patients

Observational University of Zurich · NCT06537726

This study is testing if analyzing breath samples can help doctors detect fungal infections in leukemia patients who are at high risk due to their treatment.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment130 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Zurich Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations1 site (Zurich, Canton of Zurich)
Trial IDNCT06537726 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study focuses on patients with leukemia who are at high risk for invasive fungal infections (IFI) due to chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. It aims to identify specific volatile biomarkers associated with IFI using secondary electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (SESI-HRMS). The approach is non-invasive, which is crucial for patients who cannot undergo traditional diagnostic procedures due to severe thrombocytopenia. By analyzing breath samples, the study seeks to improve the accuracy of IFI diagnosis in this vulnerable population.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are patients diagnosed with acute leukemia who are undergoing chemotherapy and have neutropenia.

Not a fit: Patients who are unable to follow instructions for breath analysis or have anatomical abnormalities preventing the use of a mouthpiece will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to a non-invasive method for early detection of invasive fungal infections in leukemia patients, potentially reducing morbidity and mortality.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of breath analysis for diagnostic purposes is an emerging field, this specific approach using SESI-HRMS for detecting fungal infections in leukemia patients is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of acute leukemia
* Planned chemotherapy with a duration of hospitalisation of 2 weeks or longer
* Neutropenia (\<500/µl) present at inclusion or planned chemotherapy with expected neutropenia (\<500/µl) for more than 7 days

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable to follow instructions for breath analysis
* Anatomic abnormalities precluding the use of a mouthpiece for breath analysis

Where this trial is running

Zurich, Canton of Zurich

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions LeukemiaLeukemia, MyeloidLeukemia, LymphoblasticNeutropeniaChemotherapy-induced NeutropeniaInvasive Fungal InfectionsInvasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.