Skin cancer melanoma

The ozone layer around the Earth has provided us all a natural ring of protection from harmful UV radiation. However, multiple anthropogenic activities have acted as barriers and often caused damage to this shield. Less protection from UV light will, over time, lead to increased health problems and crop damage. Major health problems linked to overexposure to UV radiation by the depletion of ozone include skin cancer (melanoma and nonmelanoma), premature aging of the skin and other skin problems, cataracts and other eye damage, and suppression of normal immune system function.29... 

High risk of EBV related B cell neoplasms, skin cancer, melanoma, leukemia, breast cancer, adenocarcinoma... 

Carcinogenesis. Skin cancer is the most serious adverse effect of UVR. There are three common types of skin cancer melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BSC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). BSC and SCC are known collectively as non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). BSC is the most common skin... 

Even people living in regions of the world not affected by the ozone hole are increasingly warned about the dangers of UV radiation exposure. Most daily newspapers and TV weather reports routinely report a UV index indicating the expected danger associated with outdoor activities. Skin cancer (melanoma) rates are on the rise. A 1 % decrease in ozone concentration has been predicted to cause a 2% increase in skin cancers. As early as 1999, the amount of UV radiation reaching New Zealand had increased by over 12% compared to the previous decade. 

Light and Toxic Reactions In many individuals, exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun causes skin reactions such as erythema, thickening of the epidermis, and darkening of existing pigment. Exposure to ultraviolet light also increases the risk of different forms of skin cancers, especially malignant melanoma. ... 

Describe the common signs and symptoms of skin cancer and identify the features of a mole that are suspicious for melanoma. 

Explain the goals of therapy for the treatment of nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancer. 

RRM, relative risk for melanoma BCC, basal cell carcinoma NMSC, nonmelanoma skin cancer MM, malignant melanoma. 

Cancer occurs when the growth and function of cells are out of control in relation to normal tissue. The combination of genetic alterations and environmental toxins is the most frequent contributor to the process of carcinogenesis. In the development of skin cancer, the risk factors are categorized as environmental (solar UV radiation), genetic (family history), immunosuppression, and previous history of melanoma.10... 

Generally, the phenotype that predisposes an individual to an increased risk of skin cancer is red or blond hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. These characteristics are surrogate measure of the sensitivity of the skin to sun exposure and the tendency to develop nevi, freckles, and sunburns based on the skin type. Freckles, which may appear abruptly after the first high dose of UV radiation sun exposure, represent clones of mutated melanocytes, and their presence is associated with an increased risk of melanoma.12 The Fitzpatrick classification of skin type is used to determine the response pattern of the skin to UV radiation and assess the risk for melanoma. There are six Fitzpatrick skin types Type I skin always burns and never tans, type II skin burns easily and tans rarely, type III skin burns sometimes and tans usually, type IV skin burns rarely and always tans, type V skin always tans and is moderately pigmented (brown), and type VI skin always tans and is darkly pigmented (black). Fitzpatrick I and II skin types are commonly affected by NMSC and MM. The susceptibility to skin cancer, both NMSC and MM, is related to the melanin content of the skin and the skin s response to UV radiation. 

Iyer S, Friedli A, Bowes L, Kricorian G, Fitzpatrick RE (2004) Full face laser resurfacing therapy and prophylaxis for actinic keratoses and non-melanoma skin cancer. Lasers Surg Med 34 114-119... 

Melanoma A form of skin cancer that arises in melanocytes, the cells that produce pigment. Melanoma usually begins in a mole. [NIH]... 

Ultraviolet radiation Invisible rays that are part of the energy that comes from the sun. UV radiation can damage the skin and cause melanoma and other types of skin cancer. UV radiation that reaches the earth s surface is made up of two types of rays, called UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are more likely than UVA rays to cause sunburn, but UVA rays pass deeper into the skin. Scientists have long thought that UVB radiation can cause melanoma and other types of skin cancer. They now think that UVA radiation also may add to skin damage that can lead to skin cancer and cause premature aging. For this reason, skin specialists recommend that people use sunscreens that reflect, absorb, or scatter both kinds of UV radiation. [NIH]... 

Landthaler, M. and Stolz, W. (1999) Deficiency of a novel retinoblastoma binding protein 2-homolog is a consistent feature of sporadic human melanoma skin cancer. Laboratory Investigation ... 

Ocular damage, skin cancer (including melanoma) OBRA regulated in U.S. Long Term Care... 

From the outset, their hypothesis caused worldwide concern because UV-B can damage DNA, cause skin cancer, including malignant melanoma in humans, and have long-term effects on the eye, in addition to its impact on a variety of ecosystems. 

Preliminary in vitro and animal studies of the effects of silymarin and silybinin have been carried out with several cancer cell lines. In murine models of skin cancer, silybinin and silymarin were said to reduce tumor initiation and promotion. Induction of apoptosis has also been reported using silymarin in a variety of malignant human cell lines (eg, melanoma, prostate, leukemia cells, bladder transitional-cell papilloma cells, and hepatoma cells). Inhibition of cell growth and proliferation by inducing a Gx cell cycle arrest has also been claimed in cultured human breast and prostate cancer cell lines. The use of milk thistle in the clinical treatment of cancer has not yet been adequately studied but preliminary trials are under way. 

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