An anti-inflammatory drug – celecoxib – may reduce the risk of skin cancer in humans, reports EurekAlert.
Basal cell carcinoma often develops in skin that is exposed to ultraviolet light (for example, while sunbathing) – even in young people. It is the most common form of cancer in the US.
Celecoxib is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug – it works by blocking the action of an enzyme that is involved in producing the factor responsible for pain and inflammation. It is used, for example, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, inflammation of the muscles and nerves.
Oral celecoxib is associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart attack, but researchers at the Stanford School of Medicine believe that when used as an ointment, it can prevent one of the most common skin cancers – basal cell carcinoma.
This is shown by the results of both human and mice studies. Scientists observed 60 people with a genetic predisposition to skin cancer – they develop hundreds of cancerous lesions that must be constantly removed. Orally administered celecoxib reduced the incidence of basal cell carcinoma by 50 percent compared to placebo control. This was probably possible because it interfered with the Cox-2 enzyme, which is responsible for the inflammatory processes that can promote the appearance of cancer. Previous studies have shown that celecoxib can prevent colon cancer in people with an inherited predisposition to the disease.
In mice with a genetic predisposition to skin cancer, administration of celecoxib reduced the incidence of the disease by 35 percent. It may be possible to obtain similar results with the ointment with this drug, avoiding the risks of its effects on the cardiovascular system. (PAP)