Advanced biomaterial strategies for cancerous wound management from palliative to multifunctional platforms

Cancerous wounds cause severe pain, odor, exudate, and bleeding, severely impairing patients' quality of life. Traditional management focuses on palliative symptom control. However, advances in biomaterials, drug delivery, and immunomodulation are transforming wound dressings from passive coverings into multifunctional therapeutic platforms. This review systematically outlines contemporary strategies for cancer wound management, covering evidence-based conventional dressings and emerging smart technologies, including injectable hydrogels, nanocomposites, and bioactive materials. These innovations not only control core symptoms but also demonstrate local immune modulation and antitumor activity. The paper further analyzes clinical translation challenges and outlines future directions, aiming to advance cancer wound management from palliative care toward integrated therapeutic models.