USPTO Patent Application: VOCs for Cellular Communication

ChangeBridge: Patent Apps - Biotech (C12N)

Published November 24th, 2025

Detected March 23rd, 2026

Summary

The USPTO has published patent application US20260079169A1, detailing a method for evaluating cancer behavior using volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in a mutual headspace between cancer cells and control samples. The application, filed on November 24, 2025, by inventors from institutions including Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, outlines a novel diagnostic approach.

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What changed

This document is a publication of a United States Patent Application (US20260079169A1) from the USPTO. It describes a method for evaluating metastatic behavior, apoptotic behavior, and/or cancer therapy response efficiency by analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the headspace of cell cultures. The method involves co-culturing cancer cells and control samples without physical contact, determining VOC concentrations, and comparing them to a control to identify VOCs indicative of cell-to-cell signaling in cancer.

As this is a patent application, it does not impose direct compliance obligations on regulated entities. However, it signals potential future technological advancements and intellectual property in the field of cancer diagnostics and therapy response monitoring. Companies in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device sectors may find this relevant for R&D and competitive intelligence purposes. The application was filed on November 24, 2025, with an anticipated publication date of March 19, 2026.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Applications

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AS MARKERS FOR CELLULAR COMMUNICATION

Application US20260079169A1 Kind: A1 Mar 19, 2026

Inventors

Hossam HAICK, Yoav BROZA, Mamatha SERASANAMBATI, Dina HASHOUL, Walaa SALIBA

Abstract

A method that evaluates metastatic behavior, apoptotic behavior, and/or cancer therapy response efficiency. The method has steps. The method has steps and some of those steps are: Providing a first cell culture having cancer cells and a second cell culture. There is no physical contact between the first cell culture and the second cell culture. Co-culturing the first cell culture and the second cell culture having no physical contact therebetween under a mutual headspace. Determining concentrations of VOCs in the mutual headspace. Comparing the concentrations of the VOCs in the mutual headspace to the concentrations of VOCs in a control sample. Identifying a set of VOCs indicative of cell-to-cell signaling in cancer cells in the mutual headspace wherein the VOCs have concentrations that are significantly different as compared to the control sample. And evaluating metastatic behavior, apoptotic behavior, and/or cancer therapy response efficiency using the set of VOCs identified above.