Dimethyl trisulfide as a characteristic odor associated with fungating cancer wounds.
Some advanced cancer patients suffer from pungent sulfury malodor. To determine the chemical identity of the odorant, we performed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry analysis of volatiles from fungating cancer wounds. We identified the source of the characteristic smell as dimethyl trisulfide, a compound that is known to be emitted from some vegetables and microorganisms. Controlling the production of dimethyl trisulfide should improve quality of life of patients.
Shirasu
Mika
M
Department of Integrated Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8562, Japan.
Nagai
Shunji
S
Hayashi
Ryuichi
R
Ochiai
Atsushi
A
Touhara
Kazushige
K
D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009812:Odorants; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*
D013440:Sulfides; C054170:dimethyl trisulfide