Invasive melanoma<i>in vivo</i>can be distinguished from basal cell carcinoma, benign naevi and healthy skin by canine olfaction: a proof-of-principle study of differential volatile organic compound emission

Willis, Carolyn M.; Britton, Lezlie E.; Swindells, Michael; Jones, Erica; Kemp, A.E.; Muirhead, Nina; Gül, Ahmet; Matin, Rubeta; Knutsson, Linda; Ali, Mohammad Shadab

doi:10.1111/bjd.14887

Cited by 22 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…It was decided to begin a series of double-blind tests. However, after 13 runs, the dog had successfully identi ed only one of the melanoma samples (44). Implementing blinded conditions is not easy during training because dog handlers need to know when to reinforce positive behaviour.…”

Section: Atmospheric Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Remote Medical Scent Detection of Cancer and Infectious Diseases With Dogs and Rats: a Systematic Review

Bauër

Leemans

Audureau

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: Remote medical scent detection of cancer and infectious diseases with dogs and rats has been an increasing field of research these last 20 years. If validated, the possibility of implementing such a technique in the clinic raises many hopes. This systematic review was performed to determine the evidence and performance of such methods and assess their potential relevance in the clinic.Methods: Pubmed and Web of Science databases were independently searched based on PRISMA standards. We included studies aiming at detecting cancers and infectious diseases affecting humans with dogs or rats. We excluded studies using other animals, studies aiming to detect agricultural diseases, diseases affecting animals, and others such as diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Only original articles were included. Data about patients’ selection, samples, animal characteristics, animal training and testing configurations, and performances were recorded.Results: A total of 62 studies were included. Sensitivity and specificity varied a lot among studies: While some publications report low sensitivities of 17% and specificities around 29%, others achieve rates of 100% sensitivity and specificity. Only 6 studies were evaluated in a double-blind screening like situation. In general, the risk of performance bias was high in most evaluated studies, and the quality of the evidence found was low.Conclusions: Medical detection using animals’ sense of smell lacks evidence and performances so far to be applied in the clinic. What odours the animals detect is not well understood. Further research should be conducted, focusing on patient selection, samples (choice of materials, standardization), and testing conditions. Interpolations of such results to free running detection (direct contact with humans) should be taken with extreme caution.

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Section: Atmospheric Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Remote Medical Scent Detection of Cancer and Infectious Diseases With Dogs and Rats: a Systematic Review

Bauër

Leemans

Audureau

et al. 2021

Preprint

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“…Other investigators have walked off the beaten paths and reported unconventional findings, for example Willis et al . investigated a dog's olfactory ability to discriminate melanoma from control skin lesions . In this study, a Labrador, named Ronnie, performed 20 double‐blind tests, each requiring the selection of one melanoma from nine controls, consisting of three each of basal cell carcinomas, naevi and healthy skin.…”

Section: Braaff Scoring System For Pigmented Lesionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in the diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions

Tschandl

Wiesner

2018

Br J Dermatol

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“…Similarly, many studies reported that dogs can detect the presence of early-stage cancer in their owners through odor. Consequently, dogs are being trained for cancer detection [9,10]. In the same manner, the current researchers investigated the relationship between skin gas and the effects of diet, physical condition, and aging in healthy volunteers, instead of people suffering from illnesses or disorders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristic Odor Emanating From Skin During Emotional Tension

Katsuyama¹,

Narita²,

Nakashima³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Humans frequently experience the transmission of the psychological state of people around them. Gas emanating from human skin is known to vary depending on body condition and/or food intake. This characteristic is gaining substantial scholarly attention because skin gas can be an effective non-invasive biomarker to know body condition. The study focuses on the relationship between psychological status and skin gas, which remains unclear to date. It demonstrates that an identifiable odor containing allyl mercaptan and dimethyl trisulfide is released from human skin during psychological stress and tension. An interview confirms a possible scenario where such a characteristic odor reproducibly appears. Undoubtedly, the scene is extreme. Furthermore, the study found that individuals who perceive this tension-stress model odor experience psychological tension, confusion, and fatigue (Profile of Mood States scale). The result indicates the possibility of human non-verbal communication through odor, which could enhance understanding of human interaction.

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Invasive melanomain vivocan be distinguished from basal cell carcinoma, benign naevi and healthy skin by canine olfaction: a proof-of-principle study of differential volatile organic compound emission

Abstract: Invasive melanoma in vivo releases odorous VOCs distinct from those of BCC, benign naevi and healthy skin, adding to the evidence that the volatile metabolome of melanoma contains diagnostically useful biomarkers.

Cited by 22 publications

References 42 publications

Remote Medical Scent Detection of Cancer and Infectious Diseases With Dogs and Rats: a Systematic Review

Remote Medical Scent Detection of Cancer and Infectious Diseases With Dogs and Rats: a Systematic Review

Advances in the diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions

Characteristic Odor Emanating From Skin During Emotional Tension

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