COLUMBUS – A form of skin cancer common among sunbathers could find a remedy in a drug used to treat neuromuscular disorders.
A news release from The Ohio State University reported that early test results indicate dopamine may play a role in blocking the development of basal and squamous cell skin cancers, which are linked to ultraviolet ray damage from the sun.
Doctors find this type of skin cancer 5.4 million times a year, and it has recently become more prevalent, the American Cancer Society said.
In lab tests reported in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, doctors at OSU’s Comprehensive Cancer Center found that dopamine can prevent both the development and progression of some UVB-caused precancerous squamous skin cancers.
The study’s senior author, Dr. Sujit Basu, said it is important to limit sunbathing and follow other safe practices.
“Finding better ways to prevent these cancers from developing is critical to reduce the global burden of this disease,” said Basu, a researcher with the OSUCCC – James Translational Therapeutics Research Program and a professor of pathology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
Basu noted in the press release that dopamine is an affordable and easily available drug. OSU’s Comprehensive Cancer Center will pursue Phase 1 trials soon.
This study received grants from the U.S. Department of Defense and National Institutes of Health, the release said. Co-authors include Kai Lu, Madhavi Bhat, Sara Peters, Xiaokui Mo and Tatiana Oberyszyn of Ohio State; Rita Mitra of KPC Medical College and Partha Sarathi Dasgupta of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute.
