Canine cancer detection 3751339 189223584 2008-02-05T09:01:15Z Russavia 253448 /* External links */ '''Canine cancer detection''' is an approach to [[cancer]] screening that relies upon the [[Olfaction|olfactory]] ability of [[dogs]] to detect very low concentrations of the [[alkanes]] and [[aromatic compounds]] generated by [[tumors]]. ==Research== Although the first suggestion of this approach in a medical journal dates back to [[1989]],<ref name="pmid2564551">{{cite journal |author=Williams H, Pembroke A |title=Sniffer dogs in the melanoma clinic? |journal=Lancet |volume=1 |issue=8640 |pages=734 |year=1989 |pmid=2564551 |doi=}}</ref> there were only occasional publications on the subject in the next decade.<ref name="pmid11575380">{{cite journal |author=Church J, Williams H |title=Another sniffer dog for the clinic? |journal=Lancet |volume=358 |issue=9285 |pages=930 |year=2001 |pmid=11575380 |doi=}}</ref> However, two studies (one published in [[2004]]<ref name="pmid15388612">{{cite journal |author=Willis CM, Church SM, Guest CM, ''et al'' |title=Olfactory detection of human bladder cancer by dogs: proof of principle study |journal=BMJ |volume=329 |issue=7468 |pages=712 |year=2004 |pmid=15388612 |doi=10.1136/bmj.329.7468.712}}</ref><ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-09-24-cancer-sniffing_x.htm USA Today - "Study shows dogs able to smell cancer"]</ref><ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/24/health/main645357.shtml CBS News - "Dogs Can Smell Cancer"]</ref> and one in [[2006]]) had promising results, with the 2006 report claiming a 99 percent accuracy in detecting [[lung cancer]],<ref name="pmid16484712">{{cite journal |author=McCulloch M, Jezierski T, Broffman M, Hubbard A, Turner K, Janecki T |title=Diagnostic accuracy of canine scent detection in early- and late-stage lung and breast cancers |journal=Integrative cancer therapies |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=30–9 |year=2006 |pmid=16484712 |doi=10.1177/1534735405285096}}</ref> although both studies were preliminary and involved small numbers of patients. ==Uses== There are two proposed benefits, assuming that further studies corroborate the initial results. * Some researchers believe that dogs will become integrated directly into patient care, akin to their use in detecting bombs, drugs, and missing people. * Others recommend that the skill of dogs in detecting cancer would be more appropriately confined to labs, where [[gas chromatograph]]s could be used to isolate which specific compounds the dogs identified. Recent developments include a simple breathalyser which changes colour according to the compounds in the breath, indicating the presence of cancer.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6387773.stm Lunc cancer 'colour breath test'] at [[BBC]]</ref> ==See also== * [[Scent hound]] ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== * [http://www.pinestreetfoundation.org/articles/canine.html Pine Street Foundation - Information and FAQs on Canine Scent Detection of Cancer] at pinestreetfoundation.org * [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/17/health/17dog.html NYTimes - "Dogs Excel on Smell Test to Find Cancer"] at [[New York Times]] * [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/13/nyregion/13dogs.html?hp&ex=1150257600&en=1098a4ffbdf88dba&ei=5094&partner=homepage NYTimes - Dogs and Their Fine Noses Find New Career Path] at [[New York Times]] * [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10822627/ Reuters - Dogs can detect the disease by smelling breath samples, study finds] at [[MSNBC]] * [[The Sunday Times]] - [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-1859073,00.html Dr Dog, the cancer specialist] * [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/01/0112_060112_dog_cancer.html Dogs Smell Cancer in Patients' Breath] at [[National Geographic]] * [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0602/07/i_ins.01.html - Cancer-Detecting Dogs] at [[CNN]] * [http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=530386 Dogs Smell Signs of Cancer] at healthday.com * [http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2006/01/16/newscolumn4.html "Man's best friend may hold key to sniffing out certain cancers"] at [[San Francisco Business Times]] * [http://www.pacificsun.com/story_archives/cut_dogs.html "Sniffing out cancer"] at [[Pacific Sun (newspaper)|Pacific Sun]] * [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10822627/ Dogs can detect the disease by smelling breath samples, study finds] - [[Reuters]] [[Category:Olfaction]] [[Category:Working dogs]] {{treatment-stub}}