Cancer Detection Research Project

Dogs Saving Lives

Dina recently participated in a very special study done at Pine Street Foundation in San Anselmo, California. Five dogs were trained to detect lung and breast cancer by sniffing the breath of humans. Not only did these dogs love their jobs, but they were also capable of early detection. Dina participated as a handler, sending the dogs into the room one by one, over and over again.

Read more about the study here and watch a news segment on the clinical trials below.

Dina and her group have received a federally funded grant for the next stage in the cancer dog scenting research. The study will be conducted on a larger scale, with more samples, dogs and volunteers. In the published breast cancer research, there was one case in which dogs detected a cancer recurrence 18 months before it was found by MRI follow-up. This compelling observation, while not considered proof, nevertheless suggests this study should be followed more research in a larger group of women.

Dog Noses are a Powerful Tool

People generally don’t understand how powerful a tool these cancer-scenting dogs are. Not only are they 98% accurate, but they’re also capable of early detection. Radiography (X-Ray) under diagnoses cancer, where the MRI over-diagnoses, or gives false positives, resulting in biopsy and unnecessary surgeries. There is no current screening for lung cancer that makes sense, and that’s where the dogs fit in.

Dina’s goal is to open a low cost or free cancer screening facility, where these cancer-scenting dogs could save many lives. That is her dream. The study is also leading scientists to the development of the mechanical nose, which will try to mimic the capabitlities of the dog nose.

One day, you will simply blow into a tube, and by the gas chromatography, a machine will be able to detect if you have “cancer on your breath”. But, so far, only the wonderful dog can do that. Nothing comes close to the power of a dogs nose. It always knows.

Research Papers

Read some of the research that has been published about canine cancer detection, as well as similar applications of the canine nose.

	Lung Cancer Scent Canine Detection – European Respiratory Journal
	Scent Identifications in Criminal Investigations – Michael McCulloch et. all
	Filter-Search Mine Detection Dogs - International Journal of Comparative Psychology
	Canine Detection Capabilities – J.M. Johnston, Ph.D., Auburn University
	Canine Detection: Myth or Opportunity? – Giuseppe Lippi and Gianfranco Cervellin
	Lung Cancer Detection: Editorial - Michael McCulloch et. all
	Canine Detection: Review –  Journal of Veterinary Behavior
	Article - People Magazine
	Evidence for Detection of Melanoma – Applied Animal Behavior Science
	Diagnostic Accuracy of Canine Scent Detection – Pine Street Foundation
	Cancer Screening with Odour Material – BMJ Journals