Home › Trials › NCT06169163

Breath test for detecting oesophageal cancer

Volatile Organic Compounds as Breath Biomarkers in Squamous Oesophageal Neoplasms

Observational Imperial College London · NCT06169163

This study is testing a breath test to see if it can help find oesophageal cancer early in people who have vague symptoms.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment518 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 90 Years
SexAll
SponsorImperial College London Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, immunotherapy
Locations13 sites (London, Greater London and 12 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06169163 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to develop a breath test that can detect Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) in patients with non-specific symptoms. A total of 518 participants will be recruited, divided into a cancer group with confirmed OSCC and a control group with normal or benign upper gastrointestinal conditions. Participants will provide breath samples, which will be analyzed for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at Imperial College London. The goal is to create a non-invasive early detection method for OSCC, improving survival rates.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include patients with treatment-naive, histopathology confirmed OSCC and those undergoing endoscopy for upper GI symptoms with normal or benign findings.

Not a fit: Patients who have received treatment for OSCC or have other specific exclusions such as Barrett's oesophagus or a history of another cancer in the last five years may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this breath test could significantly enhance early detection of oesophageal cancer, leading to improved survival rates.

How similar studies have performed: While breath testing for cancer detection is an emerging field, this specific approach using VOCs for OSCC is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria: Participants with all the following characteristics will be eligible for inclusion in the study:

1. Cancer cohort (n=259): Patients with treatment naïve, histopathology confirmed OSCC.
2. Control cohort (n=259): Patients who have undergone or are undergoing an endoscopy (OGD) as part of their investigation for upper GI symptoms and are found to have either:

   * A normal upper gastrointestinal tract
   * Benign upper gastrointestinal disease

Exclusion Criteria: Participants with the following characteristics will not be eligible for inclusion in the study:

1. Received some form of treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, endoscopic resection, or surgery) for OSCC
2. History of another cancer in the last five years
3. Non-squamous cell oesophageal cancer
4. Barrett's oesophagus (with or without dysplasia)
5. Previous oesophageal or gastric resection
6. Unable to provide written consent or lack capacity.
7. Pregnant women

Where this trial is running

London, Greater London and 12 other locations

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.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov → Find more trials like this →
Conditions Oesophageal Squamous Cell CarcinomaOesophageal CancerBreath biomarkerEarly detectionOesophageal cancerOesophageal squamous cell cancerVolatile organic compounds
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.