Differential volatile signatures from skin, naevi and melanoma: a novel approach to detect a pathological process.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early detection of melanoma is of great importance to reduce mortality. Discovering new melanoma biomarkers would improve early detection and diagnosis. Here, we present a novel approach to detect volatile compounds from skin.

Methods and findings

We used Head Space Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to identify volatile signatures from melanoma, naevi and skin samples. We hypothesized that the metabolic state of tissue alters the profile of volatile compounds. Volatiles released from fresh biopsy tissue of melanoma and benign naevus were compared based on their difference in frequency distribution and their expression level. We also analyzed volatile profiles from frozen tissue, including skin and melanoma.

SUBMITTER: Abaffy T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2973952 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature