Treatment Skin Cancer

About

Overview Each year approximately 2.3 million Americans are afflicted with skin cancer in the United States. Although single tumor lesions can be treated with surgery or radiation, treatment of multiple lesions using available topical agents typically requires weeks or months of treatment. Furthermore, use of currently available treatments, such as Fluorouracil, can result in blisters, burning, sensitivity and scarring at the site of treatment due to nonspecific targeting of tumor cells. Technology Dr. Rukiyah Van Dross and her co-investigators from the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the Brody School of Medicine and the Department of Chemistry at East Carolina University have developed a novel method to treat non-melanoma skin cancer. The novel method employs treating cancerous cells with 15-deoxy-∆12,14-prostaglandin-J-ethanolamide (15dPGJ-EA), a potent antitumor metabolite of the endocannabinoid arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA).The mechanism of action of 15dPGJ-EA centers on the molecule's ability to elevate the level of ER stress in tumor cells. Once the level of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in tumor cells passes a certain threshold, apoptosis is induced leading to tumor death. Advantages Topical Application Incidence of skin cancer in young adults and elderly population is on the rise Tumor specific mechanism to induce apoptosis Applications Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Melanoma Skin Cancer Activity Against Colon Cancer Cells