Targeting PTEN May Prevent Skin Cancer July 26, 2011 • The tumor
suppressor PTEN played key role in radiation damage repair. •
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United
States. PHILADELPHIA — Scientists believe they have identified a
role for PTEN, a known tumor suppressor, in removing DNA damage
derived from UVB radiation, a known risk factor for non-melanoma
skin cancer, according to a study published in Cancer Research ,
a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Yu-
Ying He, Ph.D., an assistant professor of medicine at the
University of Chicago, found that laboratory mice with reduced
levels of PTEN were more likely to have UVB-induced skin
cancers. “This was an unexpected finding and definitely provides
a new approach for chemoprevention strategies,” she said. “It’s
possible that if we can increase PTEN activity through
nutritional supplements or some sort of pharmaceutical
intervention, we may be able to prevent this common cancer.”
Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most c