Canine Olfactory Detection of Human Colorectal Cancer (version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Canine olfactory detection of human colorectal cancer from the odour of human urine and faecal samples
IRAS ID
203293
Contact name
Iain Andrew Hunter
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The main aim of this study is to train dogs to diagnose colorectal cancer by smelling human urine and faecal samples.
Dogs are renowned for their sense of smell. For centuries doctors have known diseases have characteristic odours, which dogs may be able to detect. Cancer cells release small amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Cancer detection dogs at the Medical Detection Dogs charity are being trained to detect these volatiles in human samples. We hope that this work will help scientists to develop early cancer screening systems, e.g. an electronic-nose.
This collaborative study will recruit at least 2000 participants over 3 years. Urine and faecal samples will be collected from patients aged 18 and over undergoing diagnostic testing following referral to an NHS colorectal or endoscopy clinic.
Patients will be recruited from colorectal colonoscopy clinics in Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Colonoscopy is the gold standard diagnostic method for determining the presence of colorectal cancer and other colorectal pathology. Following colonoscopy we will be able to divide patient samples into those from patients with and without bowel cancer.
Stage 1. Dog Training.
First the dogs will be trained to detect colorectal cancer by using urine or faecal samples from both patients with and without colorectal cancer. Once the training phase is complete we will move onto the testing phase.Stage 2. Testing Phase.
Samples from participants not previously exposed to the dogs, who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, diagnosed with non-malignant disease, or who are free from colonic disease, will be used to measure the dog's ability to detect cancer.At no point will any individual results be fed back to the participants.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/2210
Date of REC Opinion
20 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion