Sun-damaged cells may hold key to fighting skin cancer

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VIDEO CNN's Eileen O'Connor looks at the research on skin cancer and sunburn Windows Media 28K 80K

August 5, 1999
Web posted at: 2:01 p.m. EDT (1801 GMT)

In this story: Don't run to the sun... ... or the drugstore RELATED STORIES, SITES

(CNN) -- Scientists have identified what they say is a protein capable of fighting skin cancer. But the protein, Fas ligand, is found in skin cells damaged by the sun, according to researchers at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

The findings, published in Science Magazine, show that some people seem to have more Fas ligand than others. Scientists say this means further study could help develop skin cancer treatments and prevention and help create a method of determining those most at risk.

"When the skin gets sunburned, you are exposed to ultraviolet irradiation from the sun; and this actually induces DNA damage in the DNA of the cells. And the cells respond to that damage by up regulating this protein called Fas ligand," said Dr. Laurie Owen-Schaub of M.D. Anderson.

Fas ligand may then kill off cells that have suffered too much DNA damage and could lead to cancer.

Don't run to the sun...

This doesn't mean people should go out and get a sunburn, researchers and other skin specialists caution.

"Exposure to ultraviolet light or the sun can produce good proteins, which is what Fas ligand and Fas are, and it can also produce bad proteins, which can produce cancer. So it's a matter of how much sun you get," said Dr. Maria Turner of the National Institutes of Health.

Cancer researchers say finding a protein produced by the body that naturally fights a disease is always a good thing.

...or the drugstore

"We can fantasize and think that maybe we can make this protein a cream that we can put on our skin and help us protect us against the bad effects of the sun, but I think we are very far away from such a possibility," said Turner.

The best course still, according to the study authors and other cancer experts, is to wear protective clothing and sunblock and limit the time you spend in the sun.