The Rainbow Study – SpotitEarly’s breakthrough in detecting multiple cancers

Early detection is widely recognized as one of the most powerful tools in the fight against cancer. SpotitEarly is leading this charge with its innovative approach to identifying multiple cancer types, which has already achieved exceptional results.

“This is exactly what we are working towards at SpotitEarly,” says Udi Bobrovsky, COO and Co-founder of SpotitEarly. “We’re developing a screening test based on a breath sample that only requires three minutes of breathing into a facial mask. Specifically designed to detect multiple cancers simultaneously, it’s non-invasive, non-intimidating and accessible from anywhere.”

The recent Rainbow clinical study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, showcases SpotitEarly’s extraordinary success. It shows SpotitEarly is able to detect cancer at early stages with sensitivity rates exceeding 90% for multiple cancers, including those with no standard screening options available today. This breakthrough positions SpotitEarly as a world leader in early disease detection technology.

Why does this matter?

Traditional screening methods, such as mammograms or colonoscopies, are effective but come with limitations. They usually only target specific cancer types, frequently generate false positive and negative results and can lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. These tests are also expensive, painful for patients and often inaccessible for those who need them,

SpotitEarly addresses this gap by pioneering a radical approach that enables the detection of multiple cancers through a single, simple test. This offers an unprecedented opportunity to transform cancer screening.

The potential benefits of SpotitEarly are therefore profound. Addressing early disease detection is one way to try to improve patient outcomes and reduce the treatment burden. Our test’s non-invasive and accessible nature also helps reach broader populations, thereby reducing disparities in cancer care. SpotitEarly’s success in developing LUCID, a scalable and effective bio-hybrid screening platform, further underscores the transformative promise of this new approach.

The Rainbow Study in detail

SpotitEarly’s recent study tested its proprietary LUCID platform, which combines canine olfaction and AI to analyze breath samples. The trial focused on the 4 most common cancer types – lung, breast, colorectal and prostate – and revealed groundbreaking results in early-stage detection.

“Our approach uniquely combines sophisticated AI technology with man’s best friend: dogs,” explains Bobrovsky. “Science has shown over the past 25 years that dogs can detect cancer scent signatures with remarkable sensitivity. By leveraging this natural ability alongside cutting-edge AI, and supporting it with clinical validation data, we have created a diagnostic system that is scalable, innovative and highly accurate.”

The study demonstrated that SpotitEarly’s system delivered exceptional accuracy, achieving a sensitivity of 93.9% and a specificity of 94.3% across the four targeted cancer types. (A high sensitivity % means the test is good at finding people who actually have cancer, whilst high specificity shows that the test is good at identifying people who do not.)

Although these are preliminary results from limited data, they do highlight LUCID’s unique capability to identify cancer signals that are often overlooked by traditional diagnostic methods or where such methods don’t even exist for those at average risk.

One of the other standout findings from the research was the LUCID platform’s ability to detect cancer at early stages. Sensitivity at stages 0-2 (where cancers are relatively early and haven’t spread widely) was an impressive 95%. At these stages, different treatment options are more available and survival rates are significantly improved. By focusing on the four most common cancers that often go undiagnosed until advanced stages, SpotitEarly is addressing another critical unmet healthcare need.

“These findings are not just a scientific milestone—they’re a glimpse into the future of diagnostics,” says Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, Chief Medical Officer at SpotitEarly. “The ability to detect multiple cancers with this level of accuracy is unprecedented and has the potential to improve cancer detection and care globally.”

Dr Lichtenfeld continued: “I am pleased to see these promising results and that this new research supports and validates our non-invasive, self-administered cancer screening method. In combining the unique, scent-based biometrics of dogs and the power of AI, we have successfully unlocked the technology to detect different common cancers, in their early stages, with a single test. I expect these results will pave the way for the development of a new generation of cancer screening tests to enhance cancer detection capabilities.”

“SpotitEarly’s solution demonstrates effectiveness in the early detection of cancer,” said Prof. Nadir Arber, principal investigator and director of the Integrated Cancer Prevention Center (ICPC) at Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center, who led the research. “After rigorously reviewing the clinical validation, I am deeply impressed by its potential to revolutionize cancer screening and set a new standard in early detection. SpotitEarly is on its way to becoming a game-changer in this field.”

SpotitEarly’s success in early detection has far-reaching implications for the future of healthcare. First, its ability to detect multiple cancers in a single test addresses a critical need in modern oncology, where most existing screening methods target only one type of cancer. With integration into routine care, the LUCID platform could dramatically increase early diagnosis rates, improving survival outcomes and reducing the overall burden of cancer. In addition, the non-invasive nature of the test delivers real benefits to patients who avoid traditional screenings due to fear, discomfort or cost.

Beyond cancer, the LUCID platform’s ability to analyze VOCs opens doors for its use in other clinical areas, such as respiratory and metabolic disorders. As SpotitEarly continues to refine its technology, its impact is likely to extend beyond oncology, creating new possibilities for preventative healthcare.

SpotitEarly’s successful breakthrough represents a significant leap forward in the fight against cancer. By combining the sensitivity of canines’ sense of smell with the precision and scalability of AI, the LUCID platform offers a practical and transformative solution for early detection.

As Dr. Lichtenfeld aptly puts it, “We’re not just improving diagnostics – we’re redefining what’s possible in early detection. SpotitEarly is creating a future where cancer is found early, treatment outcomes improve and lives are saved.”