Russian Scientists to Develop AI-Powered Breath Test for Early Lung Cancer Detection

Russian researchers are harnessing exhaled‑air analysis and neural networks to catch lung cancer before symptoms appear, potentially boosting treatment success.

Russian teams at Kuban State University and the Krasnodar Regional Clinical Hospital № 1 Research Institute are working on an innovative diagnostic tool that analyzes patients’ breath using artificial intelligence. According to TASS, the system can detect molecular‑level changes linked to cancer, supplementing traditional methods like CT scans.

Oncologist Dmitry Perunov explains that the AI model identifies volatile organic compounds in exhaled air—a signature of early tumor development—long before conventional imaging would pick up abnormalities. Early detection, he notes, is critical: catching lung cancer in its initial stages dramatically improves survival rates.

Although lung cancer mortality in Russia has fallen by 17 percent over the past two decades, researchers continue to refine screening techniques. Smoking remains the leading risk factor, and experts emphasize that quitting tobacco is still the most effective prevention strategy.

The breath‑test project, slated to enter clinical trials in early 2026, represents another stride in Russia’s adoption of cutting‑edge medical technologies.