New skin cancer preventing gene discovered
A new sunscreen gene that prevents skin cancer has been discovered by researchers at The University of Southern California.
The breakthrough could lead to the development of a drug that targets the “UV radiation resistance associated gene” which suppresses skin tumours such as melanoma, a type of cancer that develops in the cells that produce melanin.
Researchers gave a UV shot to cells carrying the normal UVresistant gene and others carrying defective copies. After 24 hours, the normal versions had repaired themselves of more than 50 per cent of the UV damage while the defective samples fixed less than 20 per cent.
Professor Chengyu Liang, of the University of Southern California, said: "If we understand how this UV-resistant gene functions and the processes by which cells repair
after ultraviolet damage, then we could find targets for drugs to revert a misguided mechanism back to normal conditions.
“People who have the mutated UVresistant gene or low levels of the UVresistant gene may be at higher risk of melanoma or other skin cancers, especially if they go sunbathing or tanning frequently. Our study suggests the UV-resistant gene may serve as a biomarker for skin cancer prevention."
The researchers used data from 340 melanoma patients who participated in The Cancer Genome Atlas, a project which catalogues genetic mutations responsible for cancer.
In March Professional Beauty reported on how skin cancer rates were expected to rise in the UAE due to the longer life spans and changing dress patterns of the local residents, coupled with the country’s large number of expatriate residents with whom sunbathing is a popular pastime.
