Michigan State University researchers have discovered that honeybees possess the remarkable ability to detect lung cancer in humans through their sense of smell. According to a study published in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics, honeybees were able to identify chemicals associated with lung cancer in human breath with an impressive success rate of 82%.

The study, led by MSU professor Debajit Saha from the College of Engineering and MSU's Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, aimed to determine if honeybees could distinguish between the breath of healthy individuals and those sick with lung cancer. Saha's team formulated a synthetic breath mixture containing six compounds found in the breath of cancer patients, as well as a synthetic "healthy" breath mixture.

To conduct their experiment, the researchers placed live honeybees in custom 3D-printed harnesses and attached tiny electrodes to their brains to measure activity. The bees were exposed to the synthetic breath mixtures, and their neural firing responses were recorded. Surprisingly, the bees were able to detect the cancer-indicating compounds even at trace concentrations as low as parts per 1 billion.

"What's truly remarkable is the honeybees' ability not only to detect cancer cells but also to distinguish between different cell lines of lung cancer," highlighted Autumn McLane-Svoboda, a graduate student involved in the study. The implications of this breakthrough research are extensive, as it could pave the way for the development of a honeybee brain-based sensor capable of quickly diagnosing lung cancer in patients.

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with an estimated 235,580 new cases projected to be diagnosed in the United States alone in 2024, according to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation. Smoking remains the primary risk factor, responsible for 80% of lung cancer deaths. Early detection of high-risk lung cancer can significantly increase the chances of survival, reducing the mortality rate by up to 20%.

The potential impact of using honeybees as cancer screeners is substantial. By utilizing the bees' exceptional sense of smell, physicians could employ a non-invasive and cost-effective method to diagnose lung cancer accurately. Patients would benefit from receiving timely and specific cancer diagnoses, enabling more targeted treatment options.

The researchers believe that this study marks a significant step forward in the field of cancer detection. However, further research is necessary to refine the honeybee-based sensor and ensure its viability for clinical use. With ongoing advancements in medical technology, the future holds promise for innovative diagnostic tools that can revolutionize cancer detection and improve patient outcomes.