Breath biopsy biomarkers: cell-free nucleic acids in exhaled breath condensate.

ABSTRACT: Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) has emerged as a promising, organ-specific biofluid for non-invasive molecular diagnostics. While breath analysis has traditionally focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs), recent advances have shifted attention toward non-volatile constituents, particularly cell-free nucleic acids (cfNAs) such as genomic DNA, mitochondrial DNA, mRNA, miRNA, long non-coding RNA, and microbial genetic material. These molecules reflect the respiratory tract biology and can serve as biomarkers for a range of clinical conditions, including lung cancer, obstructive lung diseases, infections, and potentially even systemic disorders. This review summarizes the current knowledge on cfNAs in EBC, highlighting technical challenges in sample collection and nucleic acid extraction.

SUBMITTER: Pos O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12593479 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature