Cerumenogram as an assay for the metabolic diagnosis of precancer, cancer, and cancer remission

Abstract Early diagnosis is crucial for successful cancer treatment. As a mitochondrial metabolic disease, cancer produces volatile organic metabolites that are present in earwax, allowing differentiation between healthy individuals and those with cancer through an assay called cerumenogram. In this...

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Main Authors: João Marcos Gonçalves Barbosa, Camilla Gabriela de Oliveira, Marina Ferraz Gontijo Soares, Larissa Fernanda Medeiros Vieira, Omar Carneiro Filho, Daniela Medeiros Milhomem Cardoso, Patricia Medeiros Milhomem Beato, Cristina Aparecida Trigo Martins Moro, Anselmo Elcana de Oliveira, Nelson Roberto Antoniosi Filho
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97440-2
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author João Marcos Gonçalves Barbosa
Camilla Gabriela de Oliveira
Marina Ferraz Gontijo Soares
Larissa Fernanda Medeiros Vieira
Omar Carneiro Filho
Daniela Medeiros Milhomem Cardoso
Patricia Medeiros Milhomem Beato
Cristina Aparecida Trigo Martins Moro
Anselmo Elcana de Oliveira
Nelson Roberto Antoniosi Filho
author_facet João Marcos Gonçalves Barbosa
Camilla Gabriela de Oliveira
Marina Ferraz Gontijo Soares
Larissa Fernanda Medeiros Vieira
Omar Carneiro Filho
Daniela Medeiros Milhomem Cardoso
Patricia Medeiros Milhomem Beato
Cristina Aparecida Trigo Martins Moro
Anselmo Elcana de Oliveira
Nelson Roberto Antoniosi Filho
author_sort João Marcos Gonçalves Barbosa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Early diagnosis is crucial for successful cancer treatment. As a mitochondrial metabolic disease, cancer produces volatile organic metabolites that are present in earwax, allowing differentiation between healthy individuals and those with cancer through an assay called cerumenogram. In this case series study, we demonstrated that this assay also enables the diagnosis of precancerous stages, such as hypermetabolic inflammation and dysplasia, which can aid in treatments to prevent cancer progression. Additionally, this assay reveals that oncological metabolism differs from that observed in metaplasias, cysts, and benign tumors, helping to avoid unnecessary oncological procedures due to suspected malignancy. Cerumenogram can also be used to assess cancer remission. Thus, the cerumenogram emerges as an assay that might enable the diagnosis of cancer, monitor remission, and identify precancerous stages, covering key steps of tumorigenesis.
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spelling doaj-art-a6d8f435a24b47e2b073d014142bfe4e2025-08-20T02:19:56ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-97440-2Cerumenogram as an assay for the metabolic diagnosis of precancer, cancer, and cancer remissionJoão Marcos Gonçalves Barbosa0Camilla Gabriela de Oliveira1Marina Ferraz Gontijo Soares2Larissa Fernanda Medeiros Vieira3Omar Carneiro Filho4Daniela Medeiros Milhomem Cardoso5Patricia Medeiros Milhomem Beato6Cristina Aparecida Trigo Martins Moro7Anselmo Elcana de Oliveira8Nelson Roberto Antoniosi Filho9Laboratório de Métodos de Extração e Separação (LAMES), Instituto de Química (IQ), Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Campus II – SamambaiaLaboratório de Métodos de Extração e Separação (LAMES), Instituto de Química (IQ), Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Campus II – SamambaiaLaboratório de Métodos de Extração e Separação (LAMES), Instituto de Química (IQ), Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Campus II – SamambaiaInsituto de Medicina Nuclear (IMEN)Insituto de Medicina Nuclear (IMEN)Instituto do Aparelho Digestivo (IAD)Hospital Amaral Carvalho (HAC)Hospital Amaral Carvalho (HAC)Laboratório de Química Teórica e Computacional (LQTC), Instituto de Química (IQ), Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Campus II – SamambaiaLaboratório de Métodos de Extração e Separação (LAMES), Instituto de Química (IQ), Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Campus II – SamambaiaAbstract Early diagnosis is crucial for successful cancer treatment. As a mitochondrial metabolic disease, cancer produces volatile organic metabolites that are present in earwax, allowing differentiation between healthy individuals and those with cancer through an assay called cerumenogram. In this case series study, we demonstrated that this assay also enables the diagnosis of precancerous stages, such as hypermetabolic inflammation and dysplasia, which can aid in treatments to prevent cancer progression. Additionally, this assay reveals that oncological metabolism differs from that observed in metaplasias, cysts, and benign tumors, helping to avoid unnecessary oncological procedures due to suspected malignancy. Cerumenogram can also be used to assess cancer remission. Thus, the cerumenogram emerges as an assay that might enable the diagnosis of cancer, monitor remission, and identify precancerous stages, covering key steps of tumorigenesis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97440-2Volatile organic compoundsCarcinogenesisEarly diagnosisBiomarkersEarwaxCerumenogram
spellingShingle João Marcos Gonçalves Barbosa
Camilla Gabriela de Oliveira
Marina Ferraz Gontijo Soares
Larissa Fernanda Medeiros Vieira
Omar Carneiro Filho
Daniela Medeiros Milhomem Cardoso
Patricia Medeiros Milhomem Beato
Cristina Aparecida Trigo Martins Moro
Anselmo Elcana de Oliveira
Nelson Roberto Antoniosi Filho
Cerumenogram as an assay for the metabolic diagnosis of precancer, cancer, and cancer remission
Scientific Reports
Volatile organic compounds
Carcinogenesis
Early diagnosis
Biomarkers
Earwax
Cerumenogram
title Cerumenogram as an assay for the metabolic diagnosis of precancer, cancer, and cancer remission
title_full Cerumenogram as an assay for the metabolic diagnosis of precancer, cancer, and cancer remission
title_fullStr Cerumenogram as an assay for the metabolic diagnosis of precancer, cancer, and cancer remission
title_full_unstemmed Cerumenogram as an assay for the metabolic diagnosis of precancer, cancer, and cancer remission
title_short Cerumenogram as an assay for the metabolic diagnosis of precancer, cancer, and cancer remission
title_sort cerumenogram as an assay for the metabolic diagnosis of precancer cancer and cancer remission
topic Volatile organic compounds
Carcinogenesis
Early diagnosis
Biomarkers
Earwax
Cerumenogram
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97440-2
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