Health security

Eureka! Scientists in Japan Train Parasitic Roundworms to ‘Smell Out’ Cancer

The starting point for research into the unique new oncology detection method was man’s best friend. For over a decade now, scientists have known that canines have a nose for detecting everything from melanomas to lung, breast and bladder cancer with an accuracy of between 70 and 99 percent.

Researchers in Japan have created an inexpensive biological kit that’s able to detect 15 different types of cancer, with the innovative method featuring an accuracy rate of 85 percent and costing under $90. The catch? The kit uses a type of roundworm, or nematode, the parasitic insect known to plague dogs, cats and humans unfortunate enough to catch it, usually after eating raw or undercooked fish.

Fortunately, the method requires no actual interaction between patients and the parasites. In fact, all that’s required from the patient is a urine sample.