Researchers have been trying to identify the cells at the origin of cancer and to understand the molecular changes that occur in tumour-initiating cells from the first oncogenic mutation to the development of invasive cancer. The most diagnosed cancer in humans is basal cell carcinoma, with over a million such cases reported each year. A European-funded team of researchers has finally uncovered the cells at the origin of basal cell carcinoma. 

A European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant worth EUR 1.6 million was awarded to Professor Cédric Blanpain of the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). The finding was recently presented in the journal Nature Cell Biology. 

Professor Blanpain led a team that dissected for the first time the molecular changes occurring in basal cell carcinoma-initiating cells from the first oncogenic mutation to the development of invasive cancer. 

Khalil Kass Youssef, the lead author of the study, and colleagues discovered that the cells at the origin of the basal cell carcinoma were initially reprogrammed into embryonic hair follicle progenitor-like fate before they progressed into invasive carcinoma. ‘We were extremely surprised to see that tumor initiating cells were progressively and profoundly reprogram into a molecular identity that resemble to progenitor cells presented during embryonic development,’ said Dr Youssef. 

The scientists showed that the Wnt/beta-catenin signalling pathway is activated in basal cell carcinoma-initiating cells just after oncogene expression. The team established that Wnt/beta-catenin signalling is needed for the reprogramming of tumour-initiating cells into embryonic hair follicle progenitors and for tumour initiation after using genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of the Wnt/beta-catenin signalling. 

Professor Blanpain’s team, which worked together with physicians from the Department of Dermatology, Pathology and Plastic Surgery at the Hospital Erasme, indicated that human basal cell carcinomas also show signs of reprogramming into embryonic hair follicle progenitors and activating of the Wnt/beta-catenin signalling. Their discovery confirmed how important this pathway is for human patients. 

‘I am particularly excited about this work, because this basic research turns out to be very relevant for human diseases, with the identification of potentially new avenues to treat or to prevent the occurrence of the most common cancer in humans,’ said Professor Blanpain. 

This research study will help develop other work in cancer, development and stem cell biology. 

Other funding for this study came from the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS), the program d’excellence CIBLES of the Wallonia Region, a research grant from the Fondation contre le Cancer, the Fondation ULB, the Fonds Yvonne Boël, the Fond Gaston Ithier and the EMBO Young Investigator Programme.

For more information, please visit: 

Université libre de Bruxelles: 
http://www.ulb.ac.be/ulb/presentation/uk.html 

Nature Cell Biology: 
http://www.nature.com/ncb/index.html

A new drug that targets mutated BRAF in metastatic melanoma showed greater progression-free survival compared with conventional chemotherapy, an open-label phase III trial found. Among patients with BRAFV600-mutated metastatic melanoma, those receiving the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib had a median PFS of 5.1 months compared with 2.7 months for those given dacarbazine, according to Dr. Axel Hauschild of University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel, Germany, and colleagues.

Briana Cox’s doctors were baffled by a medical anomaly — Cox’s cancer cells had metastasized during her pregnancy and crossed the placenta to her developing fetus. About 30 percent of all mother-to-fetus cancers are melanoma, according to the Phoenix woman’s doctor, who said she has only seen four to five cases ever. 

Briana Cox had a malignant skin melanoma removed in 2006 and was assured by her doctors that the cancer had not spread and all her margins were clear. Cox’s cancer may have been caused by her frequent use of tanning beds, doctors believe.

The Phoenix police detective went on to have a son David, now 3, and became again pregnant with her daughter Addison.

But just two months after the baby was born, in June 2011, Cox had a seizure and collapsed during a run. Scans revealed her brain and other parts of her body were riddled with advanced cancer.

And when four dark bumps appeared on baby Addison’s forehead in September, she too was diagnosed with the same stage-four melanoma.

Photo Courtesy James Cox

Cox died in February at the age of 33, but her last wish was to tell her family’s private, but painful story to help others better understand the dangers of the disease.

About 30 percent of all mother-to-fetus cancers are melanoma, according to Hingorani, who said she has only seen four to five cases ever. Melanoma is a virulent form of skin cancer that begins in the cells that make the pigment melanin, but it can also begin in the eyes or intestines. According to the National Cancer Institute, about 76,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and 9,100 die of the disease. FULL ARTICLE 

(via ABC News)

Adults with metastatic basal cell cancer now have a new drug to help them battle the disease. The Food and Drug Administration has approved Erivedge under the agency’s priority review program. The program provides an expedited six-month review process for drugs that may result in major treatment advances. Erivedge is for patients with advanced basal cell carcinoma (bcc)  who are not candidates for radiation or surgery, or for those whose cancer has spread. BCC is the most common form of skin cancer in the country. It grows slowly and is generally curable. MORE

(via CNN Health)

(Source: CNN)

Valerie Mason-Robinson originally didn’t plan to open Eden Organix, her natural and organic beauty products store and spa in Highland Park, N.J. The chemical engineering graduate started her career in the mainstream cosmetic industry, working in the sales departments of some of the world’s largest cosmetic companies. Her path changed when her first child’s skin issues prompted her to learn more about some of the ingredients found in beauty and personal-care products.

Sea Flora is one of a selection of products made with natural ingredients sold at Eden Organix in Highland Park. / file photo Purchase Image

Her path changed when her first child’s skin issues prompted her to learn more about some of the ingredients found in beauty and personal-care products. “A lot of (mainstream) products contain skin irritants as well as chemicals linked to breast cancer, testicular cancer, asthma, eczema, early puberty and aging skin,” says Mason-Robinson, an aesthetician who now encourages people to use beauty and personal-care products with natural ingredients instead of synthetic ones. “To me, using those products is killing yourself softly, truthfully.” Mason-Robinson isn’t alone in her concern about the ingredients used in many mainstream beauty and personal-care products. Several nonprofit organizations, including the Environmental Working Group and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, are working to eliminate chemicals they believe are linked to cancer, birth defects, hormonal issues and other health problems from cosmetics and personal care products.

“Everything from deodorant to baby shampoos contains things that you shouldn’t put on your body,” says Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which recently was involved in convincing the New Brunswick-based company Johnson & Johnson to eliminate potentially carcinogenic chemicals from some of its baby shampoos. “The skin is very effective at absorbing chemicals, and in some cases, it can be an even more direct route of exposure because it doesn’t go into your digestive system.”

According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the top ingredients and contaminants to avoid in personal-care and cosmetic products include triclosan, formaldehyde, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives such as quaternium-15 and dimethyl-dimethyl, parabens like methylparaben and propylparaben, synthetic musks and hydroquinone.

We also encourages people to support the Safe Cosmetic Act, federal legislation introduced in July. If passed, this would remove chemicals linked to reproductive harm and cancer from personal-care and beauty products and set up a system for safety assessments of those products under the FDA. Corley believes as more information becomes readily available for consumers more companies will begin to remove chemicals linked to health risks from their products. “People are buying more and more natural products,” he says. “A lot of people thought it was just a trend, but it has become a lifestyle for people. You are starting to see the green movement really move.”

(via Asbury Park Press)

Hair care professionals can alert clients to suspicious skin lesions and advise follow-up with healthcare practitioners, according to a study published in the October issue of the Archives of Dermatology.

The difficulty of finding cancers in scalp skin may contribute to morbidity and mortality resulting from delayed detection. Barbers and hairdressers can serve a gatekeeper function for detecting these cancers because they regularly examine areas of the skin that are difficult for people to see.

Elizabeth E. Bailey, MD, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, and colleagues suggest that hair care specialists be educated to screen for skin cancer. To test appropriateness and feasibility, they administered a 43-item instrument derived from established surveys probing self-exam and professional scalp examinations to 304 hair professionals attending an educational conference in Houston, Texas. The 17 salons represented serve both men and women in economically diverse neighborhoods. Of the attendees, 203 (66.8%) completed the survey.

The study evaluated 4 independent factors that measured the ability of hair professionals to screen for cancer: “applied skin care knowledge” (recognizing bleeding, itching, and color and size change), personal protection (use of hats and sunscreen), familiarity with the “ABCD” rule of asymmetry-border-color-diameter to identify potential melanomas, and how often and to what extent they discuss health topics with clients.

Personal skin protection practices and health communication skills varied among individuals and were significant predictors (P = .05 and P < .001, respectively) of customer lesion observation. Skin cancer knowledge did not emerge as a significant factor (P = .48), the researchers suggest, because all of the professionals are familiar with the characteristics of skin cancer.

Results indicated that the surveyed hair professionals already screen customers for suspicious lesions, and thus function informally as lay health advisors. For example, during the month preceding the survey, 37.1% of the participants reported examining more than 50% of their customers’ scalps, 28.8% looked at more than 50% of necks, and 15.3% examined more than 50% of customers’ faces, which is consistent with the fact that practitioners predominantly view the back of the head. Fifty-eight percent reported suggesting consultation with a physician for a suspicious mole, and more than 90% agreed or strongly agreed that this is necessary for a mole that is bleeding or enlarging.

The demographics of the salon customers represented in the study suggest that hair professionals can reach communities under served by healthcare. A skin cancer education program, the investigators hypothesize, could maximize the abilities of hair care professionals to screen their clientele for suspicious lesions. If successful, the program could expand to others who regularly encounter skin, such as massage therapists, aestheticians, and nail technicians. “Future research should focus on creating a program that provides hair professionals with expert training and effective health communication tools to become confident and skilled lay skin cancer educators,” the researchers conclude.

Study weaknesses include the cross-sectional design; limited generalizability, given that all the hair professionals were from one US city; and lack of survey tool validation for the participant population (ie, the tool has been used with other groups but has not been validated with hair professionals). In addition, the response rate was good, but respondents were older and more likely to be white than nonrespondents.

“This study represents a preliminary estimation of current practices,” the authors write. “[F]urther studies with validated measures should be used to better estimate the prevalence of skin cancer screening within the salon.”

The study was supported by the Melanoma Foundation of New England.

MelaFind, a device that helps dermatologists decide whether to order a biopsy of suspected melanomas, has been approved by the FDA.

Melanoma is a fast-growing skin cancer. It’s often curable if detected early. If not, it’s one of the most deadly kinds of cancer.

MelaFind, from Mela Sciences Inc., includes a handheld scanner and a computer program that analyzes images of skin lesions. In a clinical trial, the device missed only 2% of biopsy-proven melanomas.

However, the device had a high false-positive rate. About 90% of the time, lesions identified as suspicious by the MelaFind device turned out not to be melanoma. But in the same clinical trial, a panel of dermatologists who did not use the device had an even higher false-positive rate.

Read More

The risk of developing skin cancer from sun exposure in the afternoon is significantly greater than from exposure in the morning, a new study shows. What makes the difference? It’s not the exposure, per se, but the cellular repair mechanism for UV damage to DNA, which is circadian in nature and at its peak efficiency early in the day.

(via Dermatology Times via Modern Medicine)

For years, primary care providers have advised patients to use sunscreen as a means to reduce their risk of skin cancer, especially cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). However, between 1973 and 2003, the incidence of CMM increased by 81% and continues to increase at a rate of 3% per year.^[1] According to a 2006 US Environmental Protection Agency publication, “there is no evidence that sunscreens protect you from malignant melanoma.”^[2] A number of studies suggest that the use of sunscreen either does not significantly decrease the risk or may actually increase the risk of CMM.^[3–7] Other studies indicate that sunscreen users, when compared with nonusers, may actually be more likely to develop sunburns, thereby possibly increasing their risk of CMM.^[7–9] These studies, as well as the continued increase in rates of CMM, call into question whether our current advice regarding sunscreen use is truly beneficial in preventing CMM or if it may actually be detrimental in the fight against CMM. 

Said an opening statement from a scientific paper recently published by Margaret B. Planta, MD.

Read More

A new study finds that cancer survivors are at increased risk for cutaneous melanoma, one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer. The highest risk is among those previously diagnosed with melanoma. MORE 

(via U.S. News & World Report )

Irina Shayk was the cover model on Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition this year, and now she’s posing naked on a Marc Jacobs T-shirt as part of the brand’s Protect the Skin You’re In campaign to raise funds for melanoma research at NYU School of Medicine. (The T-shirts are available exclusively at Marc by Marc Jacobs stores.) While most of us won’t be posing nude anytime soon, you should get naked when it’s time for your annual skin exam.

After all, you wouldn’t get a breast exam with your bra on, right? Well, you can’t get a thorough skin examination with your clothes on, either. So when you see your doctor for a mole check, be prepared to strip down and slip into that oh-so-flattering paper gown. There are two reasons it’s important to show all of your skin to your dermatologist, and not just the one mole or spot you have immediate concerns about.

First, even though the mole you may be worried about is on your back, it’s a good idea for your doctor to examine the rest of your body, including your scalp, feet, and under your underwear. That’s right — I’ve found melanoma cancers in the groin area and under the bra. While skin cancers are more common on sun-exposed skin, they can appear anywhere, even in places where the sun don’t shine.

The second reason to bare it all is that a full-body exam may reveal other problems, such as sun damage, rashes, or fungus infections on your back (very common in the humid summer months). Getting undressed may be a pain (and is embarrassing for some), but it can actually save your life. May is National Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, so make an appointment to get your skin checked if you haven’t had an exam in the past year.

The proceeds from all sales of the campaign tees are to be donated to theNYU Cancer Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center. The tees are available from Marc by Marc Jacobs stores at $35.

(Source: dailyglow.com)

I was young (which I’d like to think wasn’t THAT long ago), it was common practice to buy a package of visits at the local tanning salon before prom, summer vacation or any other upcoming event. I wouldn’t say I did it all the time, but looking back, I did it more than I should have. A new report is classifying tanning beds as “carcinogenic to humans.” So perhaps the “bronzed-beauty” look is no longer worth the risks to your health. 

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) is the group pushing for more stringent warnings and restrictions on tanning bed use. The first group they are targeting are those under 18. 

Current laws vary by state. Some states already prohibit young people from using tanning beds, while others require written permission from a parent. But their recommendation is to ban anyone under 18 from using a tanning bed because of the risk of developing skin cancer. 

The report, published in the journal The Lancet Oncology determined that the risk of melanoma increases by 75 percent when someone starts using tanning beds before age 30. There have been previous arguments that tanning beds are safe because they only emit UVA light. But findings of new research have prompted the agency to classify all UV radiation (including UVA, UVB and UVC) as carcinogenic. 

The FDA requires tanning salons to require customers wear protective eye goggles. My friends and I never wore the goggles because we were afraid of getting tan lines that looked like a “raccoon mask.” Not smart, huh? Salons are also required to inform customers of the risks of skin cancer and eye damage. These new findings are forcing the FDA to take a second look at strengthening the language of these warnings.

Drinking both green and black teas can help you live longer, according to a wealth of worldwide research. A 2009 study of 2,000 Chinese women suggested that drinking green tea regularly (and eating a diet rich in mushrooms) may cut cancer risk by 90 percent, while a study of over 40,000 Japanese men and women showed that those who drank five or more cups of green tea daily had the lowest chances of dying from stroke or heart disease. The caffeinated drink has high levels of cancer-fighting antioxidants (a cup contains can be as packed with antioxidants as a serving of fresh spinach). Meanwhile, black tea, which has antioxidants, too, offers its own benefits. Over 15 years, researchers recorded the tea-drinking habits of 60,000 Swedish women, ages 40 to 76. Some drank at least two cups of tea per day, while others drank less than a one cup per month. The regular tea-drinkers had a 46 percent lower risk of ovarian cancer. Experts recommend drinking at least two cups a day of the stuff you brew yourself (bottled teas seem to lose their health benefits).