Skin cancers are the most frequent cancers in fair-skinned populations, but we can prevent them

: Cancers of the skin are the most commonly occurring cancers in humans. In fair-skinned populations, up to 95% of keratinocyte skin cancers and 70-95% of cutaneous melanomas are caused by ultraviolet radiation and are thus theoretically preventable. Currently, however, there is no comprehensive global advice on practical steps to be taken to reduce the toll of skin cancer. To address this gap, an expert working group comprising clinicians and researchers from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, and Europe, together with learned societies (European Association of Dermato-Oncology, Euromelanoma, Euroskin, European Union of Medical Specialists, and the Melanoma World Society) reviewed the extant evidence and issued the following evidence-based recommendations for photoprotection as a strategy to prevent skin cancer. Fair skinned people, especially children, should minimise their exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and are advised to use protective measures when the UV index is forecast to reach 3 or higher. Protective measures include a combination of seeking shade, physical protection (e.g. clothing, hat, sunglasses), and applying broad-spectrum, SPF 30 + sunscreens to uncovered skin. Intentional exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation for the purpose of sunbathing and tanning is considered an unhealthy behaviour and should be avoided. Similarly, use of solaria and other artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation to encourage tanning should be strongly discouraged, through regulation if necessary. Primary prevention of skin cancer has a positive return on investment. We encourage policymakers to communicate these messages to the general public and promote their wider implementation

A Molecular Analysis of Vitelline Membrane Production in \u3cem\u3eDrosophila melanogaster\u3c/em\u3e

Throughout the development of an organism, cells become specialized for specific functions, activities and the production of an array of biosynthetic molecules. As a result, this process of cellular differentiation and specialization leads to the formation of highly ordered structures and the construction of complex tissues. Cellular differentiation involves the selective, and temporally ordered expression of the genetic material in specific cells. Therefore, development is controlled both in time and space throughout the life cycle and is ultimately dependent upon the genetic repertoire of the organism. Consequently, a central issue in current biologyinvolves elucidating the mechanisms and controls that underlie the differential expression of the genetic material at the molecular level. From many recent studies it has become obvious that a combined biochemical and genetic approach will greatly facilitate understanding of the molecular mechanisms and controls involved in cellular differentiation and specialization. Because of the wealth of genetic information on Drosophila melanogaster, the availability of mutants, and the genetic manipulations possible, this has been one ofthe most studied organisms for addressing developmental processes. In Drosophila, a particular system which is currently being studied from a combined morphological, genetic, and molecular approach by several laboratories involves the production of the eggshell during oogenesis by the epithelial follicle cells surrounding the oocyte. Eggshell production is particularly suited for studying mechanisms underlying differential gene expression because large amounts of cell-specific gene products are produced that are easily identifiable and ,incorporated into, a well defined extracellular structure. The proteins constituting the major eggshell layers are produced in a sequential order (Petri et al., 1976; Waring and Mahowald, 1979; Fargnoli and Waring, 1982), making the eggshell synthesis program particularly attractive for studying differential gene expression in a well defined developmental pathway. This study has been directed toward identifying the proteins and structural genes involved in the formation of the vitelline membrane, the first of two major eggshell layers to be synthesized by the somatic follicle cells in this developmental program. The feasibility of these studies has been based on past and current investigations into the synthesis of the chorion, the outermost layer of the eggshell

Position statement on classification of basal cell carcinomas. Part 2: EADO proposal for new operational staging system adapted to basal cell carcinomas

Background: No simple staging system has emerged for basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), since they do not follow the TNM process, and practitioners failed to agree on simple clinical or pathological criteria as a basis for a classification. Operational classification of BCCs is required for decision-making, trials and guidelines. Unsupervised clustering of real cases of difficult-to-treat BCCs (DTT-BCCs; part 1) has demonstrated that experts could blindly agree on a five groups classification of DTT-BCCs based on five patterns of clinical situations. Objective: Using this five patterns to generate an operational and comprehensive classification of BCCs. Method: Testing practitioner's agreement, when using the five patterns classification to ensure that it is robust enough to be used in the practice. Generating the first version of a staging system of BCCs based on pattern recognition. Results: Sixty-two physicians, including 48 practitioners and the 14 experts who participated in the generation of the five different patterns of DTT-BCCs, agreed on 90% of cases when classifying 199 DTT-BCCs cases using the five patterns classification (part 1) attesting that this classification is understandable and usable in practice. In order to cover the whole field of BCCs, these five groups of DTT-BCCs were added a group representing the huge number of easy-to-treat BCCs, for which sub-classification has little interest, and a group of very rare metastatic cases, resulting in a four-stage and seven-substage staging system of BCCs. Conclusion: A practical classification adapted to the specificities of BCCs is proposed. It is the first tumour classification based on pattern recognition of clinical situations, which proves to be consistent and usable. This EADO staging system version 1 will be improved step by step and tested as a decision tool and a prognostic instrument

Antroquinonol A: Scalable Synthesis and Preclinical Biology of a Phase 2 Drug Candidate

The fungal-derived Taiwanese natural product antroquinonol A has attracted both academic and commercial interest due to its reported exciting biological properties. This reduced quinone is currently in phase II trials (USA and Taiwan) for the treatment of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and was recently granted orphan drug status by the FDA for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and acute myeloid leukemia. Pending successful completion of human clinical trials, antroquinonol is expected to be commercialized under the trade name Hocena. A synthesis-enabled biological re-examination of this promising natural product, however, reveals minimal <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> antitumor activity in preclinical models

Discovery of Potent Heterodimeric Antagonists of Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAPs) with Sustained Antitumor Activity

The prominent role of IAPs in controlling cell death and their overexpression in a variety of cancers has prompted the development of IAP antagonists as potential antitumor therapies. We describe the identification of a series of heterodimeric antagonists with highly potent antiproliferative activities in cIAP- and XIAP-dependent cell lines. Compounds <b>15</b> and <b>17</b> further demonstrate curative efficacy in human melanoma and lung cancer xenograft models and are promising candidates for advanced studies