Highly-Trained Dogs’ Olfactory System Detects Prostate Cancer in Urine Samples

Gianluigi Taverna1, Lorenzo Tidu1, Fabio Grizzi1, Valter Torri1, Alberto Mandressi2, Paolo Sardella1, Giuseppe La Torre1, Giampiero Cocciolone1, Mauro Seveso1, Guido Giusti1, Alessio Benetti1, Rodolfo Hurle1, Luigi Castaldo1, Luisa Pasini1, Silvia Zandegiacomo De Zorzi1, Pierpaolo Graziotti1
  • 1 Istituto Clinico Humanitas (Rozzano)
  • 2 Istituto Clinico Humanitas Mater Domini (Castellanza)

Objective

The detection of volatile organic compounds ( VOCs ) in urines is a promising approach to cancer recognition . Here , we establish the level of accuracy in term of sensitivity and specificity at which a rigorously trained canine olfactory system can recognize prostate cancer ( PC ) – specific VOCs in urine .
A total of 902 participants were investigated . These were divided into two Groups : a ) Prostate Cancer Group ( n = 362 ) and b ) Control Group ( n = 540 ) . The Prostate Cancer Group included patients with PC ranging from very – low risk to metastatic .

Methods and results

The Prostate Cancer Group included patients with PC ranging from very – low risk to metastatic . The Control Group included a heterogeneous cohort of healthy participants , patients with non – neoplastic diseases or non – prostatic tumors . Two dogs and a full – time , highly specialized , multidisciplinary team was involved in the study .
During the evaluation phase , the dogs achieved the following performances : Dog 1 : sensitivity 100 % ( 95 % CI : 99.0 -100.0 % ) and specificity 98.7 % ( 95 % CI : 97.3 – 99.5 % ) . Dog 2 : sensitivity 98.6 % ( 95 % CI : 96.8 – 99.6 % ) and specificity 97.6 % ( 95 % CI : 95.9 – 98.7 % ) .

Discussion

When the female participants were excluded, Dog 1 achieved a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98.3% (95%CI: 96.6-99.3%), while Dog 2 achieved a sensitivity of 98.6% (95%CI: 96.8-99.6%) and specificity of 96.9% (95%CI: 94.7-98.3%). When only the adult men in the Control Group were considered, Dog 1 achieved a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98% (95%CI: 96-99.2%), while Dog 2 a sensitivity of 98.6% (95%CI: 96.8-99.6%) and specificity of 96.4% (95%CI: 93.9-98.1%). Analysis of false positive cases did not reveal any consistent pattern in terms of participant demographics or tumor characteristics.
INTERPRETATION: A trained canine olfactory system detects PC specific-VOCs in urine samples. These findings are unattainable through current urological tools. What used to seem no more than a myth has definitely turned into a clinical opportunity no longer to be ignored.

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