Canine cancer detection

Although the first suggestion of this approach in a medical journal, The Lancet, dates back to 1989,[8] there were only occasional publications on the subject in the next decade.[9]

However, two studies (one published in 2004[10][11][12] and one in 2006), involving detection in urine, had promising results, with the 2006 report claiming a 99% accuracy in detecting lung cancer,[13] although both studies were preliminary and involved small numbers of patients.

In a 2011 study, lung cancer was identified with a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 93%, using breath samples.[14]

In a May 25, 2012 article, “What to make of Medical Dogs” published by Science-Based Medicine, Peter Lipson reported on his review of the scientific literature regarding these claims and found valid support for positive conclusions to be lacking:

While anecdotes abound, there is scant literature to support this ability. One unimpressive pilot study looked at dogs’ potential ability to detect bladder cancers from urine samples. The idea behind cancer dogs is that there may be volatile compounds produced in cancer patients that dogs can detect by scent. In these studies, the compounds are not identified, not tested for, not named. There are many confounders, for example, in the few samples used, there may be other differences being detected by the dogs.[15]

In the other study (I found very few) dogs were “trained” to detect lung and breast cancers in humans. The methodology of breath sampling is not validated as far as I can see, and once again, the putative compounds in breath are not identified. Statistically, the efficacy is marginal at best… I don’t doubt the social and emotional value of dogs as companions, and as active helpers in many circumstances. But beyond this, the evidence is wanting.[15]

In 2021, in order to fight the spread of the 2019-nCoV virus during the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of dogs was initiated to detect people infected with this pathogen.[16]

As American Airlines Arena in Miami reopened to fans on January 28, 2021, the Miami Heat utilized dogs it billed as "coronavirus detection dogs" to screen people entering the building.[16] CNN reported that use of sniffer dogs is based upon early unproven preliminary studies. When asked about the veracity of the research, Matthew Jafarian, Miami Heat's executive vice president for business strategy, told CNN "that he originally was skeptical, but found the studies 'compelling' because they reached similar results. He said that the Miami Heat is taking its dog program "very slowly" until it learns more."[16]

• Scent hound