PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R. Ehmann
AU  - E. Boedeker
AU  - U. Friedrich
AU  - J. Sagert
AU  - J. Dippon
AU  - G. Friedel
AU  - T. Walles
TI  - Canine scent detection in the diagnosis of lung cancer: Revisiting a puzzling phenomenon
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.00051711
DP  - 2011 Jan 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - erj00517-2011
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/08/05/09031936.00051711.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/08/05/09031936.00051711.full
AB  - Patient prognosis in lung cancer (LC) largely depends on early diagnosis. Exhaled breath of patients may represent the ideal specimen for future LC screening. However, the clinical applicability of current diagnostic sensor technologies based on signal pattern analysis remains incalculable due to their inability to identify a clear target. To test the robustness of the presence of a so far unknown volatile organic compound in the breath of patients with LC, sniffer dogs were applied. Exhalation samples of 220 volunteers (healthy individuals, confirmed LC, or COPD) were presented to sniffer dogs following a rigid scientific protocol. Patient history, drug administration and clinicopathological data were analysed to identify potential bias or confounders. LC was identified with an overall sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 93%. LC detection was independent from COPD and the presence of tobacco smoke and food odors. Logistic regression identified two drugs as potential confounders. It must be assumed, that a robust and specific volatile organic compound (or pattern) is present in the breath of patients with LC. Additional research efforts are required to overcome the current technical limitations of electronic sensor technologies to engineer a clinically applicable screening tool.