Volatile Organic Compounds of Malignant Breast Cancer Wounds: Identification and Odors.

Introduction: During the metabolic processes of malignant wounds, bacteria produce a large amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are responsible for malodors and may have a major impact on the patient's quality of life with a risk of isolation.

Objective: A translational study was conducted on 32 malignant breast wounds by combining the identification of bacterial strains present on wounds, the identification of VOCs produced by these bacterial strains, and sensory evaluation to assess odor intensity and quality of odorous bacteria.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-two patients with malignant breast cancer wounds > 10 cm2 at various stages of the disease (curative or palliative) were included in the protocol.