Meet Mars, Moon, and Pluto—the exceptional Labrador retrievers whose cancer-sniffing abilities are, quite literally, out of this world. These talented dogs, paired with artificial intelligence, have paved the way for a groundbreaking cancer screening method that detects cancerous odors in patients’ breath with impressive accuracy and sensitivity.
In a study published on November 15 in Scientific Reports, this innovative approach identified four types of cancer—breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate—with a remarkable 94% success rate. Equally effective for detecting both early and advanced stages, the method promises to enhance survival rates by enabling earlier interventions, says Assaf Rabinowicz, CTO of SpotitEarly, the Israel-based company behind the technique.
The system leverages the dogs’ extraordinary olfactory skills, which allow them to pick up faint scent signatures unique to cancer. Labrador retrievers were trained to analyze breath samples, sitting down when they detected cancer. While interpreting the dogs’ cues proved challenging for humans, AI bridged the gap. By using machine learning and computer vision, an AI model accurately decoded the dogs’ responses.
The method was tested on nearly 1,400 breath samples from medical centers in Israel, including 261 cancer-positive cases. The canine-AI team successfully identified 245 of these cases, while maintaining a low false-positive rate.
Looking ahead, SpotitEarly plans a larger clinical trial in the United States, with initial results expected by 2026. While the company is now exploring the use of smaller, more easily trainable beagles, Mars, Moon, Pluto, and their Labrador peers remain integral to research and development.
“These Labs are not only beautiful and friendly but also incredibly skilled,” says Rabinowicz. “They’ve done a phenomenal job.”
This breakthrough highlights the transformative potential of blending nature’s abilities with technological innovation in the fight against cancer.