A Saint John company is leading a groundbreaking study to detect breast cancer using a simple breath test. Breathe BioMedical partnered with the IWK Health Centre in Halifax and the Vitalité Health Network in Moncton to expand their research. This noninvasive test works alongside traditional mammograms to streamline breast cancer screening.

How the Breath Test Works

When you exhale, your body releases specific compounds. The Breathe BioMedical test collects these compounds when a patient breathes into a specialized tube. The technology identifies patterns found in patients with breast cancer and compares them to compounds found in people without the disease.

The Saint John Connection

Breathe BioMedical began developing breath test technology in 2018. The company initially focused on lung cancer before shifting its focus to breast cancer. Between 2018 and 2023, the company ran a highly successful pilot study right here in Saint John.

This preliminary pilot achieved an 88 percent overall accuracy rate. The study included 111 patients, consisting of individuals with breast cancer and a healthy control group.

Expanding the Research

Following the success of the Saint John pilot, CEO Bill Dawes announced the current study expansion. The research now includes patients at the IWK in Halifax and a Vitalité Health Network location in Moncton.

The team aims to recruit 800 participants. Half of the group will have breast cancer, and the other half will serve as the control group. Eligible patients are between 40 and 70 years old and are already undergoing a routine breast biopsy. Radiologists identify potential participants during their standard breast imaging appointments. Once collected, all breath samples go to Moncton for testing.

Why This Technology Matters

This breath test offers a massive advantage for women with dense breast tissue. Dense tissue often obscures cancer in standard mammograms. A breath test provides a clear and noninvasive alternative to catch the disease sooner.

Dr. Ashley Drohan is a surgical oncologist and codirector of the Breast Health Research Unit at the IWK. She highlights the importance of this innovation.

“If we can identify a tool that is noninvasive, that is accurate and helps detect breast cancer early, well then the breast cancer potentially could be more treatable,” Drohan said.

Breathe BioMedical plans to expand to more sites before the end of the decade. This expansion will capture a broader representation of women from different backgrounds, creating a more diverse and accurate machine learning model.

“Imagine the potential where someday we have a simple, noninvasive test for breast cancer detection,” Dawes said. “That is what we are trying to create at Breathe BioMedical.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Breathe BioMedical test?

It is a noninvasive test that analyzes the compounds in a patient exhaled breath to detect early signs of breast cancer.

How accurate is the breath test?

A pilot study conducted in Saint John between 2018 and 2023 demonstrated an 88 percent overall accuracy rate among 111 patients.

Who is eligible for the current study?

Eligible patients are women between 40 and 70 years of age who are undergoing a routine breast biopsy at participating locations like the IWK or Vitalité Health Network.

How does this help women with dense breast tissue?

Dense breast tissue hides cancer on traditional mammograms. The breath test relies on chemical compounds in the breath rather than imaging, making it a highly effective alternative for early detection.