Various studies are being conducted to reduce the dangers of cancer and to detect cancer early. According to the latest research, it has been learned that some types of cancer can change the smell of urine and that ants can detect cancer from the smell of urine. “Ants can be used as biodetectors to distinguish healthy individuals from those with tumors,” said study author Professor Patrizia d’Ettorre.
A SUITABLE WAY TO DETECT CANCER
In their findings, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, they said these insects could be used as a cost-effective way to detect cancers in patients. Study author Professor Patrizia d’Ettorre, from the Sorbonne Paris Nord University in Paris, France, said: “The ants can be used as biodetectors to distinguish healthy individuals from tumor-bearers. They are easy to train, they learn fast, they are very efficient and they are not expensive to keep.”
THEY CAN DISCRIMINATE HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY URINE
This research builds on a previous study by Professor d’Ettorre and colleagues in which they showed that ants can “smell” human cancer cells growing in the lab. For the latest study, the researchers exposed 70 ants belonging to the species known as Formica fusca to urine samples from mice with and without tumors. After three trials, the ants were able to tell the difference between the urine smell of healthy mice and the urine smell of tumor-bearing mice.
Researchers say this is because ants have a very sensitive olfactory system. Professor d’Ettorre added: “We trained them with associative learning to associate a particular scent – cancer – with a reward, and after very little experimentation they learned the association.
TO TRY ON HUMAN URINE
“We have shown that ants can distinguish the urine of healthy mice from the urine of tumor-bearing mice. This is more like a real-life situation than using cultured cancer cells. We were surprised at how efficient and reliable the ants were.” The researchers now want to see if ants can do the same for human urine.