Dogs have been known to sniff out all kinds of things, including drugs, bombs, and missing people. A team of Parisian researchers now concludes that tumors can be added to the list. They say that with training, dogs can detect the odor of unique chemicals released into urine by prostate tumors. If implemented, this method could improve on the current PSA test because there would be fewer false positives. The researchers discussed their findings this week at a meeting of the American Urological Association in San Francisco.

The team trained a Belgian Malinois to sniff out urine from patients with confirmed prostate cancer, and in 66 tests, the dog was correct 63 times (there were three false positives and no false negatives). Now the researchers are trying to determine the specific chemicals that the dog reacted to, which would pave the way for an "electronic nose" instead of real canines.