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RESEARCHERS TRYING TO develop a diagnostic tool for ovarian cancer are hoping dogs’ keen sense of smell will lead them down the right path.
An early detection device that combines old-fashioned olfactory skills, chemical analysis and modern technology could lead to better survival rates for the disease, which is particularly deadly because it’s often not caught until an advanced stage.
Using blood and tissue samples donated by patients, the University of Pennsylvania’s Working Dog Center has started training three canines to sniff out the signature compound that indicates the presence of ovarian cancer.
If the animals can isolate the chemical marker, scientists at the nearby Monell Chemical Senses Center will work to create an electronic sensor to identify the same odorant.
“Because if the dogs can do it, then the question is, Can our analytical instrumentation do it? We think we can,” Monell organic chemist George Preti said.
Early detection
More than 20,000 Americans are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. When it’s caught early, women have a five-year survival rate of 90 percent. But because of its generic symptoms — weight gain, bloating or constipation — the disease is more often caught late.
About 70 percent of cases are identified after the cancer has spread, said Dr Janos Tanyi, a Penn oncologist whose patients are participating in the study. For those women, the five-year survival rate is less than 40 percent, he said.
The Philadelphia researchers will build on previous work showing that early stage ovarian cancer alters odorous compounds in the body. Another study in Britain in 2004 demonstrated that dogs could identify bladder cancer patients by smelling their urine.
No major breakthroughs
Dr Leonard Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, said while the canine concept has shown promise for several years, there haven’t been any major breakthroughs yet.
“We’re still looking to see whether something could be developed and be useful in routine patient care, and we’re not there yet,” said Lichtenfeld, who is not involved in the study.
Cindy Otto, director of the Working Dog Center, hopes to change that with the help of McBaine, a springer spaniel; Ohlin, a Labrador retriever; and Tsunami, a German shepherd.
“If we can figure out what those chemicals are, what that fingerprint of ovarian cancer is that’s in the blood — or maybe even eventually in the urine or something like that — then we can have that automated test that will be less expensive and very efficient at screening those samples,” Otto said.
Ovarian cancer patient Marta Drexler, 57, is heartened by the effort. Drexler describes herself as a textbook case of the disease not being detected early enough because she had no symptoms.
After two surgeries and two rounds of chemotherapy, Drexler said she didn’t hesitate when Dr Tanyi, her physician, asked her to donate tissue to the study. Last week, she visited the Working Dog Center to meet the animals whose work might one day lead to fewer battles like hers.
“To have the opportunity to help with this dreadful disease, to do something about it, even if it’s just a tiny little bit of something, it’s a big thing,” said Drexler, of nearby Lansdowne.
- All images by Matt Rourke/Associated Press.
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They should bring back the Back to Education grant
Plus a million there
FF to abstain on budget vote will need Lowry to get it through ! Now is John Deasy chance to get rid of Kenny vote against general election quick ??
Heard him during the week saying he won’t vote against it
I’m comfortable earning a middle income please leave it like that and give the money to those struggling. To much vote wanting here
Pension in 2007 budget €209. It will probably be nearly €239 by 2017. While I don’t begrudge anyone that worked hard all their life a pleasant retirement I can assure you I’m no where near €30 better off.
FG re alignment where they look at the number of years.you contributed for will keep this in check. Wrongly if course as those who never worked won’t be impacted
@lavbeer: We should have the same system as America where your pension is based on your contributions. In Ireland especially for females who take time out to have children but work the rest of their lives could end up getting less than someone who decides not to work – how can that be fair. The difference between contributory and non contributory is a joke.
Here a question I don’t know the answer to. My mother worked in the civil service in the early 70′s. After she got married she like thousands of other women was forced to give up her job. Not only did she loose her civil service pension but her old age pension is cut too as a result. Has anyone ever taken the government to task over this matter?
I lost you when you said same system as America. They are not a social stage and I’m proud to say we offer all citizens a basic life at the very least. And I’m happy to pay my tax towards that.
I think she might have gotten a marriage gratuity, how that affects old age pension I don’t know.
Totally agree with you. The two groups that suffered least during the recession and whose actual spending power increased due to the cost reductions and deflation. Maybe we could actually stop buying votes and adjust things for the future? With only 40% or so of people paying all the income tax in this country, it is time to widen the tax Base and to give something back to those that have shouldered the burden of the recession, people with jobs that are paying tax!
Am I reading that right, social welfare is increasing for recipients by €20 a week? As a “squeezed middle” family, looks like we’d be lucky to see an increase of €20 a month. Yes, we might have more incoming than those on social welfare, but my outgoings are enormous. The costs of working, commuting, childcare in our joint income household leaves nothing at the end of each month. I would love €20 extra a week to spend on entertainment or a meal out, after a tough week working. Lucky them. Sure they probably need it more than we do after their tough week.
You read it wrong.
That was the 2007 budget
@CazzoA: this is about a FF budget in 2007, wait til tuesday for this decades one.
Ah, I should read properly and jump off the soapbox. Will save my ranting for budget day. A nice chunk off USC and some childcare tax credits would do nicely.
And an equivalent for those of us without children.
Wish they wouldn’t touch tax and improve healthcare system.
I’d say your disposable income could be less than someone on social welfare as you no doubt have bills to pay like insurance, medical and mortgage, etc…
You didn’t read it at all…instead jumped straight to the comments section
Budget 2007 bought the election nothing else.
Brisn Clown should be in jail for selling us down the river. This useless character should have his pension taken away, we keep rewarding failure handsomely in Ireland. This has got to stop.
So let me get this straight, earning <€4,004 is 0% ,BUT €0 – €10,036 has a 2% charge. Hope the poor hoors in the lowest bracket have a box to tick!
Well spotted. But shur this country in all about box ticking and loopholes!!!
@TractorPat:
You do realise that they are the 2011 figures, don’t you?
That gif had given me an overwhelming urge to watch Wayne’s world once again.
Let’s make sure our politicians get their €125 pw rise and leave the pensioners carers etc. wait until next year to get their paltry (not modest) €5
Should bring back health levy for dental & optical we pay enough tax & prsi to at least get something out of it.. I
Cowen on TV the other day, at Bobby Molloy funeral.
Did not look well. But that’s what heavy drinking does.
For all the bad choices he made for the country, he has to escape reality somehow. Has spent his life waiting to have
“a few pints”.
MK.
Buying the Social welfare vote again with a 12 % increase This budget will be a joke just more money for the long term social grabbers. I have no issue with a helping hand but when holidays and cars are bought with social money we pay for …….
have your say