Dogs Can Sniff Out Lung Cancer in Humans

A new study out of Germany shows that dogs can predict the presence of early lung cancer in a human’s body just by sniffing his or her breath. The dogs were able to accurately sniff out tumors in 71% of patients in a German hospital, making scientists hopeful that dogs could be used in early detection of lung cancer. It can be difficult to diagnose lung cancer in its early stages, so any new techniques could help with screening and save lives.

“In the breath of patients with lung cancer, there are likely to be different chemicals to normal breath samples and the dogs’ keen sense of smell can detect this difference at an early stage of the disease,” said Thorsten Walles, the lead researcher.

After smelling the breath of over 200 volunteers including healthy people, lung cancer patients and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the dogs were able, incredibly, to detect lung cancer even in the presence of other scents like tobacco smoke. Current lab tests can’t do this. The fact that the dogs were so often correct leads researchers to believe that there is a volatile organic compound (VOC) directly associated with lung cancer.

According to Science Daily, “VOCs are emitted from the surface of cells as they undergo tumor-induced gene and protein changes. Identifying the VOCs that certain cells make can go a long way toward early diagnosis, when a scan might not be able to detect anything.”

There’s still more work to be done, but Walles says he’s confident that there is a “marker” for lung cancer in the breath. The question is, what is it? It’s too bad the dogs can’t be of more help.

“It is unfortunate,” Walles said, “that dogs cannot communicate the biochemistry of the scent of cancer.”

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Read more: cancer, cancer detection, dogs, lung cancer

Photo from grangernite via flickr.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

jessica w.

8:41AM PST on Dec 14, 2011

it'd be nice if they could explain what the dog did differently when they came across a person with cancer compared to those who didn't have it.

send a green star

Margaret M.

7:04PM PDT on Sep 8, 2011

Thank-you for the article. Another way to prove that a dog is man's best friend!

Kath R.

2:50PM PDT on Sep 8, 2011

Maybe people will treat them better now.

Latonya W.

2:31PM PDT on Sep 8, 2011

Because they ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!

Carole K.

8:33AM PDT on Sep 6, 2011

More accurate than high-dollar expensive medical equipment. This is one friendly diagnostic screening I wouldn't mind undergoing once in awhile. Very quick & painless to be sure.......

Elizabeth O.

8:26AM PDT on Sep 3, 2011

Interesting article.

Nita O.

1:16PM PDT on Sep 1, 2011

thanks

Nancy C.

4:16AM PDT on Aug 31, 2011

Thanx for the update.

Charlene R.

6:25PM PDT on Aug 30, 2011

This is just another reason, to care for our canine cousins.