Tel Aviv, May 14 -- Israeli scientists are harnessing the power of dogs to sniff out cancer before symptoms even appear, Assuta Medical Centers announced on Wednesday.

The new method, developed by Tel Aviv-based startup SpotitEarly, features dogs guided by artificial intelligence to identify cancer at its early, more treatable stages. In tests at Assuta Ramat HaHayal Hospital in Tel Aviv, specially trained beagles showed a 94 per cent accuracy rate at catching four of the most common types of cancers.

"This is a tool with the potential to save lives," said Gidi Leshetz, CEO of Assuta Medical Centers, which is running the study through its innovation arm, RISE. "It is non-invasive, simple, and, most importantly, has the power to create r...