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Single, specific odor may distinguish common ovarian cancers
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The odor of ovarian cancers is quite different from those of cervical, endometrial and vulvar carcinomas, which may someday assist in early diagnosis of common ovarian carcinomas.
Researchers from Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Goteborg, Sweden, the Swedish Working Dog Club and the Hungarian Working Dog Club in Hungary, trained a dog to distinguish between the scent of ovarian carcinomas and healthy tissues and other gynecologic carcinomas.
In 10 series, the dog correctly identified four tissue samples from each of five different patients’ tumors samples among a variety of fat samples, intra-abdominal muscle tissues and healthy postmenopausal ovary samples.
Eight ovarian carcinoma samples, two endometrial adenocarcinomas and one squamous cervical carcinoma were identified in four separate series with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 91%.
In a double blind test to distinguish between ovarian carcinoma and healthy tissues, the dog correctly identified 20 ovarian cancer samples from small bowel, muscle, fat and healthy postmenopausal ovary samples. The dog also identified one fat and one muscle sample as targets, resulting in 97.5% specificity.
Based on the results, the researchers concluded that the most common ovarian cancers may have a single, specific odor. – by Stacey L. Adams
Integr Cancer Ther. 2008; doi:10.1177/1534735408319058.