An early diagnosis for skin cancer may be just a sniff away, according to a report presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society. According to the report, odors from the skin can be used to identify basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. Like all other cancers, the best hope for successful treatment of skin cancer lies in early detection. This breakthrough could allow doctors to screen for and diagnose skin cancer in its very early stages.

Researchers in the study found that human skin produces several airborne chemical molecules known as volatile organic compounds, many of which are odorous. The study’s authors obtained these compounds from basal cell carcinoma sites in 11 patients and compared them to samples from similar skin sites in 11 healthy controls. The compounds obtained from the basal cell carcinoma patients contained a greater concentration of volatile organic compounds.
This breakthrough could have a significant impact on the lives of the millions of Americans who are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. The chief cause of skin cancer is ultraviolet (UV) radiation. While the sun serves as the major source of UV radiation, tanning beds and some welding equipment also produce these harmful rays. The federal government classifies UV rays as a “known human carcinogen.” Thus UV rays are classified in the same cancer-causing group that includes arsenic, asbestos, and tobacco smoke.

Source: Monell Chemical Senses Center