Dogs and Prostate Cancer: Can They Detect It by Smell?

Dogs have long been recognized for their exceptional sense of smell, which has been utilized in various fields, including medical diagnostics. Research has shown that trained detection dogs can identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with prostate cancer in urine samples. These VOCs, which reflect metabolic and pathological changes, serve as potential biomarkers for the disease.

Studies have demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in canine detection of prostate cancer. Notably, Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds trained for urine analysis achieved detection accuracies exceeding 90%. In a recent study, canine olfaction outperformed MRI in identifying clinically significant prostate cancer cases. However, challenges such as variability among dogs, environmental influences, and standardization issues limit widespread adoption.

To address these limitations, researchers are exploring artificial noses—biosensors and electronic noses (eNoses) that analyze VOCs using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and machine learning models. Early results show promise, with some models achieving diagnostic accuracy comparable to or exceeding prosta

te-specific antigen (PSA) testing.

While canine-assisted prostate cancer detection is not yet a mainstream diagnostic tool, it highlights the potential of VOC-based diagnostics, paving the way for non-invasive, highly accurate screening methods in the future.

Urology News. (n.d.). Can dogs smell prostate cancer? Urology News. https://www.urologynews.uk.com/features/features/post/can-dogs-smell-prostate-cancer