Analysis of volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath for lung cancer diagnosis using a sensor system

•We have designed and fabricated a sensor system for early lung cancer diagnosis.•Breath gas was collected from lung cancer patients before and after the surgery.•Volatile organic compounds in the breath gas were analyzed by the sensor system.•Lung cancer patients were distinguished from healthy controls with 75.0% accuracy.•Breath analysis may develop as a novel diagnostic tool for early lung cancer.