The graduate student in Basic Biomedical Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine of the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí (UASLP) Lorena Díaz de León Martínez, under the direction of Dr. Rogelio Flores Ramírez from CIACyT, carried out the research project “Identification of profiles of volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath by means of an electronic nose as a proposal for a detection method for breast cancer “. This research led the university to obtain one of the 25 recognitions granted by the 3M company, to women in science in Latin America, a call to which more than a thousand women applied. The study was carried out in collaboration with the Jalisco Institute of Cancerology and the Breast Cancer Foundation (FUCAM).
In the project, Díaz de León in conjunction with doctors Rogelio Flores and Fernando Díaz-Barriga, for approximately three years, achieved the development of a screening model to detect breast cancer in exhaled breath from an early stage and is currently being applied in women from indigenous communities. “In these communities they do not have access to health services, mammographers, coupled with social, geographical and cultural barriers, this is how this idea of supporting women in vulnerable situations came about through new, feasible and above all accessible technologies” . 443 women participated, of which 269 were diagnosed with breast cancer by biopsy and the other percentage healthy women.
The test was applied in the community of Tocoy, in the municipality of San Antonio, in Huasteca Potosina, an area with a high degree of marginalization. He explained that the process is carried out in a breath collecting bag where what is called a chemical fingerprint is detected, which is a set of chemical substances that are generated in exhaled breath, specific for a disease or healthy person.
The graduate student stated that the purpose of the recognition received and the project presented is to publicize the work carried out at the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí and above all the impact it may have on society.
He indicated that there are studies on the detection of breast cancer in breath, however, the application of nano sensors in separation or their application in society in general was not verified.
“This is the largest study in the world on exhaled breath issues applied to breast cancer; we are pioneers in this, there are also models for Chronic Obstructive Disease and a model for early detection of lung cancer is being developed.”
“In addition, in conjunction with researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, a test is being developed to evaluate the lung damage produced by COVID-19”.
Lorena added that they will continue to work on the identification and solution of other social, environmental and health problems, especially in promoting Social Analytical Innovation projects, in the development of new analytical technologies applied to society, such as detection of diseases, environmental risks and biological, “make visible the problems of vulnerable communities and propose solutions, motto of our work team”
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