Unveiling Colorectal Cancer Biomarkers: Harnessing Biosensor Technology for Volatile Organic Compound Detection

Conventional screening options for colorectal cancer (CRC) detection are mainly direct visualization and invasive methods including colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy, which must be performed in a clinical setting and may be linked to adverse effects for some patients. Non-invasive CRC diagnostic tests such as computed tomography colonography and stool tests are either too costly or less reliable than invasive ones. On the other hand, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are potentially ideal non-invasive biomarkers for CRC detection and monitoring. The present review is a comprehensive presentation of the current state-of-the-art VOC-based CRC diagnostics, with a specific focus on recent advancements in biosensor design and application. Among them, breath-based chromatography pattern analysis and sampling techniques are overviewed, along with nanoparticle-based optical and electrochemical biosensor approaches. Limitations of the currently available technologies are also discussed with an outlook for improvement in combination with big data analytics and advanced instrumentation, as well as expanding the scope and specificity of CRC-related volatile biomarkers.