New Tools to Fight Skin Cancer

New Tools to Fight Skin Cancer

Research being conducted at South Dakota State University could provide soon new tools to fight skin Cancer. Professor Chandradhar Dwivedi, who leads the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department at SDSU, said the work could be in the streets within 10 years.

According to Dwivedi a number of chemical compounds that could be used with sunscreen are being evaluated for their effectiveness in blocking sun radiation. In addition, many of these compounds could be use to reverse the damage already done by the radiation of the sun.

Certain workers (farmers, construction workers and others) need to spend long hours exposed to sunlight. They are certainly at a risk because of their work. This exposure certainly contribute to skin cancer formation and development.

Although more and more people are using sunscreens these days caution should exercised since many of them do not work or people do not understand that sunscreens must be re-applied at regular intervals for optimum protection.

According to Dwivedi, SDSU's research of skin product components is finding that:

Alpha-santalol is of the main components of oil of sandalwood that is giving excellent results. The work has been done in animal models but human's trials are on their way. Alpha-santalol has added benefits. It smells good so people would not mind using it.

Another compound called sarcophine-diol, made from a product called sarcophine coming from coral found in the Red Sea, has been tested at SDSU research over the past five years. Sarcophine-diol is effective at the micrograms level.

SDSU research is also trying to address the skin cancer problem once it has started. There might b e an opportunity to intervene at a second stage so cancer proliferation doesn't occur. Precancerous cells could be targeted to destroy them before they proliferate.

Source:
News Office Website http://www.sdstate.edu