How A Beagle's Nose Could Change Breast Cancer Detection
October 21, 2025
When we picture cancer detection, we often think of sterile labs and complex machinery. But what if the next breakthrough had four legs and a wagging tail?
At Hackensack Meridian Health, we are always searching for new ways to care for our community. That’s why the Hennessy Institute for Cancer Prevention & Applied Molecular Medicine is leading a new clinical trial to validate an innovative new breath test developed by SpotitEarly.
This test uses a simple breath test and a beagle’s incredible sense of smell to detect breast cancer, offering new hope for a painless, non-invasive way to find cancer early.
The Target: Why Early Detection Matters
Doctors recommend specific tests and health screenings to help detect diseases and health conditions early. The sooner you can identify a health risk, the better your chances are for recovery.
But unfortunately, fewer than 15% of all cancers in the U.S. are found through regular screening tests. This means the vast majority of cases are discovered only after symptoms appear, when the cancer is more advanced and difficult to treat.
Many people miss out on early cancer screenings. It might be due to cost, trouble getting a ride or even just being afraid of the test. But the most important thing to remember is simple: finding cancer early saves lives.
Our Response: The PINK Study
To tackle this challenge, Hackensack Meridian Health is launching the PINK Study, a new clinical trial focused on verifying SpotitEarly’s breast cancer detection test.
The study will be led by Elias Obeid, M.D., a specialist in breast cancer and cancer genetics, and the medical director of the Hennessy Institute.
"What we really want to see is whether or not this technology can make the early detection of cancer easier, more comfortable, and available to more people,” says Dr. Obeid. “Since it is a non-invasive, easy test, fewer women would be missing out on a chance of detecting cancer early and catching it when it can be most treatable.”
How It Works: Puppy Power & AI
The science behind the test is an unlikely team. It combines a beagle’s amazing sense of smell with powerful artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze a simple, at-home breath test.
Your Breath Carries Clues from All Over Your Body
As your blood travels through your body, it picks up clues from your organs and cells called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). When the blood passes through your lungs, VOCs are released in the air you breathe out.
Cancer Has Its Own Unique Smell
Healthy cells and cancer cells create different kinds of VOCs.
This means that cancer has its own “signature smell.” While our noses can’t notice this tiny difference, a dog’s powerful nose can be trained to pick up on that specific cancer smell, even if it’s just a tiny amount.
The Test
After a patient breathes into a breath collection mask for three minutes, the mask is sealed in a container and sent to the lab.
- The Sniff Test. The sample is then presented to a highly trained dog. Using its remarkable sense of smell, the dog can find the special smell that cancer cells make. In trials so far, the dog's detection has been incredibly accurate.
- AI Evaluation. The dog's "sniff test" is only half of the equation. The findings are then analyzed by SpotitEarly’s unique AI platform called LUCID, which performs a two-part analysis:
- Canine Biometrics: First, it examines how the dog reacts to the sample, such as changes in body language or heart rate.
- Chemical Analysis: A machine also analyzes the breath sample for the chemical evidence of VOCs associated with cancer.
- By combining the dog's superior sense of smell with precise machine analysis, the AI generates a single, reliable result.
"This study represents a new frontier in cancer prevention. The idea that cancer's presence can be sniffed by dogs and analyzed by AI from something as simple as a person's breath is incredibly exciting and can change how we approach screening altogether,” says Dr. Obeid.
The Partnership Making it Possible
While SpotitEarly provides the groundbreaking technology, a new medical test can only be proven accurate with real patient data from a trusted clinical expert. The Hennessy Institute provides that essential piece – the proof of accuracy – by connecting the technology to the real-world results from our patients.
Here’s how we will prove if the new test is accurate:
- Who: Women already getting a mammogram or biopsy at Hackensack Meridian Health will be invited to participate.
- What: They will provide a breath sample for the new test and complete a quick survey.
- How: Researchers will compare the results from the new breath test against the actual medical results from the mammogram or biopsy. This shows us if SpotitEarly’s new technology got it right.
"We're starting with breast cancer, but the hope is to evolve to other cancers—especially those that may not have a screening test for them. This study reflects our belief that the future of cancer care isn't just about treating disease, but about intercepting it when it's first starting, rather than when it becomes symptomatic,” says Dr. Obeid.
Next Steps & Resources:
- Meet our source: Elias Obeid, M.D.
- To make an appointment with an oncologist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
- Want to be part of this important research? Find out if you qualify: https://redcap.link/PINK
- Learn more about cancer care at Hackensack Meridian Health.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
