Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million, in 2020.
One way to improve survival rates is to develop better diagnostic methods.Early detection is crucial, as patients have a higher chance of recovery if the cancer is found sooner.
Currently, many early detection methods are either invasive or expensive, making them unavailable to many people.
Cancer cells can emit specific chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), that can be used to identify cancer.
Animals, including ants, with their strong sense of smell, can therefore be trained to recognize these VOCs.
One alternative method being studied involves the use of animals’ sense of smell.
Now, scientists have shown that ants can detect the “scent of cancer” from urine, which one day could represent a cheap and effective cancer detection method.
In a new study paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences scientists report that ants can detect the scent of several types of cancer, which changes the odor of urine.
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