On May 15, 2025, breath sample collection began at the IRCCS “S. De Bellis” in Castellana Grotte, a hospital specialized in gastroenterology and one of the most prominent healthcare institutions in Puglia and across Italy.
This date marks a significant milestone for the Endoscope project, which is part of the D3-4Health cascade funding program promoted by Sapienza University of Rome. The initiative aims to develop innovative digital solutions for more sustainable healthcare.
The study focuses on colorectal cancer, one of the most widespread cancers in Italy, with over 50,000 new cases in 2023 (source: AIOM). The project involves a multicenter comparative study to validate breath analysis as a non-invasive, highly selective method for early screening.
Thanks to this study and supporting technologies, it will be possible to collect and analyze the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the exhaled breath of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, with the aim of identifying a specific metabolic pattern associated with the disease.
Project Figures
The Endoscope project will run for 12 months, with the collection of 1,000 breath samples from both affected patients and healthy control subjects. Of these, 300 samples will be analyzed and compared with colonoscopy results to build a predictive model using machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms.
The broader goal of D3-4Health is to contribute to the development of the so-called “digital and biological twin”—a virtual biological twin of the patient that will support the medicine of the future, making it increasingly personalized, precise, and adaptable.
A New Frontier for Screening
In a context where early screening is crucial to reducing colorectal cancer mortality, innovative tools like breath analysis represent a viable alternative: non-invasive, cost-effective, and easily scalable.
This study expands and enhances ongoing research into colorectal cancer, with the long-term goal of introducing new, accessible early screening pathways in the coming years.
