Inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria and study summary
Cancer of the stomach and oesophagus (gullet) is among the world's top five cancers. Survival rates are very poor as the disease presents late and early symptoms are non-specific. We have developed a non-invasive test for cancers of the stomach and oesophagus based on the detection of small molecules in exhaled breath that we believe are produced by the cancer as well as gut bacteria that are associated with the cancer. Our proposed innovation is to improve the accuracy of this test by investigating whether the ingredients of simple foods can increase the production of these small molecules. It is expected that cancer and bacteria cells will break down these ingredients to produce larger amounts of the small molecules we have previously measured in the breath, therefore making it easier to detect the cancer. The study will be a prospective multi-centre study, recruiting patients to augment the production of organic compounds in the breath by the consumption of a stimulant drink. Serial breath tests will be performed following this and the collected breath samples will be analysed for organic compounds (associated with cancer and the gut microbiome). In addition to this we aim to establish a comprehensive bioresource of matched samples from patients with oesophageal and gastric cancer as well as controls. Biosamples including breath, urine, saliva, blood, tissue and gastric contents will be collected and analysed to further investigate the metabolic pathways involved in cancer development and organic compound production.
