Breath test for early detection of pancreatic cancer

Volatile Organic Compound Assessment in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (VAPOR 1 / BIORESOURCE)

Observational Imperial College London · NCT05727020

This study is testing a new breath test to see if it can help find pancreatic cancer earlier in patients.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment1005 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorImperial College London Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations1 site (London)
Trial IDNCT05727020 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study aims to improve the early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by developing a non-invasive breath test that identifies volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with the disease. A total of 192 patients will provide samples for a pancreatic biobank, while an additional 771 patients will participate in the VAPOR 1 clinical study to validate the breath test. The study will analyze various biosamples, including breath, saliva, blood, and pancreatic tissue, to understand the mechanisms of VOC production in PDAC. The goal is to enable quicker diagnosis and treatment for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults with histologically confirmed PDAC, new-onset diabetes mellitus, chronic pancreatitis, or non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms with a radiologically-normal pancreas.

Not a fit: Patients who have previously received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery for their PDAC, as well as those unable to provide a breath sample, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to earlier detection of pancreatic cancer, improving treatment options and survival rates for patients.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using breath analysis for cancer detection is promising, this specific methodology is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in previous studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Males and females
* Adult patients ≥ 18 years old
* VAPOR 1: patients with either a) Histologically confirmed PDAC\*; b) New-onset diabetes mellitus or chronic pancreatitis; or c) Non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms, but a radiologically-normal pancreas
* VAPOR Bioresource: patients undergoing pancreatic resection for a) Histologically confirmed PDAC\*; or b) Benign pancreatic disorders e.g. intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, pancreatic mucinous cystic neoplasms, chronic pancreatitis

Note: \*Patients undergoing surgery for suspected PDAC (without pre-operative histological confirmation) may be recruited assuming PDAC is confirmed within the resected specimen.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who have already received chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery for their PDAC
* History of another cancer within the previous five years
* Previous upper gastrointestinal surgery
* Patients who are unable to provide a breath sample
* Pregnant women
* Patients unable to provide informed written consent
* VAPOR 1: Patients with active infection, receiving immunosuppressive medications or antibiotics within the preceding eight weeks
* VAPOR Bioresource: Patients receiving immunosuppressive medications within the preceding eight weeks

Where this trial is running

London

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 PDAC - Pancreatic Ductal AdenocarcinomaPancreatic CancerVolatile organic compoundsBreath analysisVolatolomicsMetabonomics / LipidomicsTranscriptomicsMicrobiome Analysis
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.