Genetics of Lung Disease Using Exhaled Breath DNA Methylation and Cough Capture for Lung Carcinogenesis

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating whether cough can serve as a non-invasive way to study the lungs for detecting large molecules like DNA and proteins. The study aims to develop and test a method that captures cough samples and isolates deep-lung specific extracellular vesicles (EVs), comparing these with invasive lung samples and mouth rinses from the same participants. This approach could help in early detection and risk assessment of lung diseases including lung cancer, asthma, and COPD. The study collects cough samples using a handheld chamber device, instructing participants to cough every 30 seconds for 10 minutes. The collected specimens, along with mouth rinse and bronchoalveolar lavage samples, are analyzed for DNA mutations using advanced sequencing and for lung-specific proteins through proteomic techniques. The research includes healthy volunteers, smokers, and people living with HIV, with comparisons made across these groups. Participants provide samples during clinical visits and are followed for up to 3 months to collect diagnostic updates. Researchers perform detailed DNA mutation and protein analyses on the samples to evaluate how well cough specimens represent deep lung material. The study emphasizes non-invasive collection and aims to support future development of large-scale clinical and public health applications for lung disease diagnosis and monitoring.

Cough Capture as a Portal Into the Lung