A novel non-invasive colorectal cancer diagnostic method: Volatile organic compounds as biomarkers

•A new methodology has identified three VOCs in human fecal samples that are differentially detected in patients with CRC, colonic adenomas and controls.•The three VOCs whose peak area differ between samples from patients with CRC and controls are: p-cresol, 3(4H)-DBZ and 1H-indole.•These three VOCs found as biomarkers are different from those identified in other previous studies.•p-Cresol is the best individual biomarker to predict CRC with good sensitivity and specificity.•The sensitive, fast, economical and easy-to-handle analytical methodology developed could be used as a potential screening technology for CRC and pre-malignant lesions.