Vitamin reduce the risk skin cancer melanoma
Vitamin A supplements could reduce the risk of developing the deadly skin cancer melanoma, according to a new study.
The results show that people takingvitamin A were 60 percent less likely to develop melanoma over the six-year study. People who had taken the vitamin, but weren't currently taking it, did not gain any protective effect.
The reduced risk was more pronounced in women than men.
"This is promising evidence that in addition to sun protection, there's another option that can help prevent melanoma," said Dr. Mary Gail Mercurio, a dermatologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, who was not involved with the study.
Vitamin A is found in foods such as sweet potato, carrots, spinach, milk, eggs and liver. The vitamin plays an important role in vision, bone health, immune function and reproduction, but high doses of it can be toxic.
The study appears today (March 1) in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Genetics could increase melanoma risk
Melanoma is the sixth leading cause of cancer in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. About 76,000 cases of melanomas will be diagnosed this year, based on recent estimates.
In the study, researchers examined about 69,000 men and women, and after about six years, 566 had developed melanoma.
Among the 59,000 people in the study who had never taken vitamin A supplements, there were 506 cases of melanoma, while among the 5,800 people who were currently taking it and had used it regularly over the past 10 years, there were 28 cases.
Study researcher Dr. Maryam Asgari, a dermatologist and research scientist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, said the protective effect might be stronger in women than men because men may be more susceptible to skin damage from ultraviolet radiation.
She pointed to a recent animal study that suggests females may have more natural antioxidant protection in the skin than males.
The new study also found the melanoma risk was reduced the most in those who took high doses of the supplement. But Asgari cautioned that takingtoo much vitamin A could lead to such harmful conditions as birth defects, liver problems and bone loss.
"There are limits to how much vitamin A a person can consume," she said.
The recommended daily amount of vitamin A is 700 micrograms for adult women and 900 micrograms for adult men, according to the National Institutes of Health. Taking more than 2,800 micrograms of vitamin A could lead to toxic symptoms in adults.
Genetic risk
Reducing sunlight exposure has long been recommended to reduce the risk of melanoma. This includes limiting time in direct sunlight, wearing sun block and avoiding tanning beds.
Unfortunately, not all melanoma is a result of sun exposure. There is also a strong genetic component, Mercurio said. "Even the most vigilant sun-avoider is at risk, especially if they are fair-skinned, freckle easily and have red or blonde hair."
Although she said the study's findings were compelling, she cautioned it's not clear how much vitamin A might bring a benefit.
"We don't know yet the optimal dosage," Mercurio said. "Further studies will clarify how much vitamin A in the form of a supplement would be of benefit for melanoma prevention."
The Food and Drug Administration has for the first time approved a drug to treat advanced cases of the most common skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, the agency announced Monday.
The drug, a capsule called Erivedge (generically known as vismodegib), treats basal cell carcinoma that has metastasized (spread through the body), or that cannot be treated with surgery.
In a clinical study in 96 people, 30 percent of those with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (which had spread to surrounding tissue), and 43 percent of those with metastatic cancer (which had spread to distant sites in the body) saw their tumors shrink or heal while taking the drug, according to a statement from the FDA. Patients took one pill by mouth each day.
Doctors treat non-metastatic cases with surgery, radiation or topical treatments, and have an extremely high success rate. But no other treatments exist for inoperable cases, such as people with tumors that have extended into the brain, or people who would become disfigured from surgery.
"This is exciting," said Dr. Désirée Ratner, director of dermatologic surgery at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. "I treat high-risk cases that are doable with surgery, but now there is a nonsurgical medical option for large, very advanced cases."
Ratner said she once had a patient whose tumor covered her entire upper back, and spread into her neck. That patient was not eligible for surgery, she said, but would perhaps have been a candidate for this drug, she said.
Stopping the spread
Basal cell carcinoma originates in the top layer of the skin, spreads slowly and accounts for 80 percent of all skin cancer cases in the U.S. Each year about 2 million people in the U.S. receive a diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma, making it the country's most common skin cancer. However, less than 1 percent of diagnoses are metastatic.
Factors that raise a person's risk include having fair, freckly skin, and being chronically exposed to the sun.
The FDA statement noted that Erivedge caused a range of side effects, including muscle spasms, hair loss, weight loss, nausea, fatigue, decreased appetite, vomiting and loss of taste.
Pregnant women should not take Erivedge, as it could kill or harm a fetus, the agency said.
How it works
Basal cell carcinoma is linked to mutations in genes that are part of a signaling pathway called the hedgehog pathway. Erivedge works by inhibiting the hedgehog pathway.
In addition to helping patients with skin cancer, Erivedge might also treat people with other cancers, such as medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor that occurs in children; pancreatic cancer; and a type of lung cancer. The drug is currently in trials for other cancers.
Erivedge is produced by the company Genentech.
Healthy behaviors could prevent about half of all cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.
Here are 10 lifestyle changes, all based on recent research, that can improve your odds of warding off cancer.
The tips come from Dr. Anne McTiernan, a cancer prevention researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
Many people think cancer is entirely genetic and cannot be avoided, but that's not true.
Healthy behaviors could prevent about half of cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.
Here are 10 lifestyle changes, all based on the latest research, that can improve the odds against cancer. The tips come from Dr. Anne McTiernan of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
- Don’t smoke or use any other tobacco products. If you’ve tried to quit before, don’t give up — eventually something will work.
1. Don't smoke or use any tobacco products. Smoking causes a host of cancers, including cancers of the lung, esophagus, mouth, throat, stomach and pancreas, according to the National Cancer Institute. It's also the leading cause of premature, preventable death in the United States. If you've tried to quit before, don't give up — eventually something will work, McTiernan said.
2. Get screened for cancer regularly. Screening tests can detect cancers of the colon, breast, prostate, cervix and skin (ask your doctor how often to get them and at what age you should start). Even if you don't have any symptoms yet, finding cancer early greatly increases your chances of treatment and even cure. Screening tests can include physical exams, blood tests, imaging and X-rays and genetic tests.
5. Be physically active. Research shows active people have a lower risk of developing colon and breast cancers than people who don't exercise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You don't need to be a super-athlete to get the benefits of exercise. Activities such as brisk walking, biking, dancing or any exercise that raises your heart rate and makes you sweat is beneficial.
6. Keep your weight in the normal range for your height. That means keeping to a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or less. Increases in BMI are linked to endometrial, gall bladder, esophageal, renal, thyroid and colon cancers, according to a 2008 study in the journal Lancet. Try to stay within five to 10 pounds of what you weighed at age 18, the researchers advised.
7. Avoid taking hormone replacement therapy to treat symptoms of menopause. A number of studies have linked hormone use to an increased risk of uterine cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. If you need to take hormones, limit your use to less than five years, the ACS advises.
8. After consulting your doctor, consider taking medications to reduce your cancer risk. There are several medications that have been tested and found effective for reducing risk for cancer. For example, drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators can help women with a high risk of developing breast cancer stay cancer-free, according to the Mayo Clinic.
9. Avoid exposures to cancer-causing substances. Radiation exposures and some chemicals are known to cause cancer. For example, ionizing radiation that comes from gamma rays, high-energy UV rays and X-rays is linked to cancers of the lung, skin, thyroid, breast and stomach, according to the American Cancer Society.
10. Eat a diet that reduces the risk of cancer.
The role of diet in cancer is far from established, but research suggests that a plant-based diet is associated with reduced risks for several cancers, especially colon cancer.
The recommendations include keeping your intake of red meat to no more than four ounces (about the size of a deck of cards) per day on average, avoiding processed meats such as sausages and bologna, eating at least five servings of a variety of non-starchy vegetables and fruits every day, and minimizing your intake of sugary drinks, juices, desserts and candies, refined breads and bagels, and chips.
Vitamin A supplements could reduce the risk of developing the deadly skin cancer melanoma, according to a new study.
The results show that people takingvitamin A were 60 percent less likely to develop melanoma over the six-year study. People who had taken the vitamin, but weren't currently taking it, did not gain any protective effect.
The reduced risk was more pronounced in women than men.
"This is promising evidence that in addition to sun protection, there's another option that can help prevent melanoma," said Dr. Mary Gail Mercurio, a dermatologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, who was not involved with the study.
Vitamin A is found in foods such as sweet potato, carrots, spinach, milk, eggs and liver. The vitamin plays an important role in vision, bone health, immune function and reproduction, but high doses of it can be toxic.
The study appears today (March 1) in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Genetics could increase melanoma risk
Melanoma is the sixth leading cause of cancer in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. About 76,000 cases of melanomas will be diagnosed this year, based on recent estimates.
In the study, researchers examined about 69,000 men and women, and after about six years, 566 had developed melanoma.
Among the 59,000 people in the study who had never taken vitamin A supplements, there were 506 cases of melanoma, while among the 5,800 people who were currently taking it and had used it regularly over the past 10 years, there were 28 cases.
Study researcher Dr. Maryam Asgari, a dermatologist and research scientist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, said the protective effect might be stronger in women than men because men may be more susceptible to skin damage from ultraviolet radiation.
She pointed to a recent animal study that suggests females may have more natural antioxidant protection in the skin than males.
The new study also found the melanoma risk was reduced the most in those who took high doses of the supplement. But Asgari cautioned that takingtoo much vitamin A could lead to such harmful conditions as birth defects, liver problems and bone loss.
"There are limits to how much vitamin A a person can consume," she said.
The recommended daily amount of vitamin A is 700 micrograms for adult women and 900 micrograms for adult men, according to the National Institutes of Health. Taking more than 2,800 micrograms of vitamin A could lead to toxic symptoms in adults.
Genetic risk
Reducing sunlight exposure has long been recommended to reduce the risk of melanoma. This includes limiting time in direct sunlight, wearing sun block and avoiding tanning beds.
Unfortunately, not all melanoma is a result of sun exposure. There is also a strong genetic component, Mercurio said. "Even the most vigilant sun-avoider is at risk, especially if they are fair-skinned, freckle easily and have red or blonde hair."
Although she said the study's findings were compelling, she cautioned it's not clear how much vitamin A might bring a benefit.
"We don't know yet the optimal dosage," Mercurio said. "Further studies will clarify how much vitamin A in the form of a supplement would be of benefit for melanoma prevention."
FDA approves the first drug for inoperable skin cancer
The drug, a capsule called Erivedge (generically known as vismodegib), treats basal cell carcinoma that has metastasized (spread through the body), or that cannot be treated with surgery.
In a clinical study in 96 people, 30 percent of those with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (which had spread to surrounding tissue), and 43 percent of those with metastatic cancer (which had spread to distant sites in the body) saw their tumors shrink or heal while taking the drug, according to a statement from the FDA. Patients took one pill by mouth each day.
Doctors treat non-metastatic cases with surgery, radiation or topical treatments, and have an extremely high success rate. But no other treatments exist for inoperable cases, such as people with tumors that have extended into the brain, or people who would become disfigured from surgery.
"This is exciting," said Dr. Désirée Ratner, director of dermatologic surgery at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. "I treat high-risk cases that are doable with surgery, but now there is a nonsurgical medical option for large, very advanced cases."
Ratner said she once had a patient whose tumor covered her entire upper back, and spread into her neck. That patient was not eligible for surgery, she said, but would perhaps have been a candidate for this drug, she said.
Stopping the spread
Basal cell carcinoma originates in the top layer of the skin, spreads slowly and accounts for 80 percent of all skin cancer cases in the U.S. Each year about 2 million people in the U.S. receive a diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma, making it the country's most common skin cancer. However, less than 1 percent of diagnoses are metastatic.
Factors that raise a person's risk include having fair, freckly skin, and being chronically exposed to the sun.
The FDA statement noted that Erivedge caused a range of side effects, including muscle spasms, hair loss, weight loss, nausea, fatigue, decreased appetite, vomiting and loss of taste.
Pregnant women should not take Erivedge, as it could kill or harm a fetus, the agency said.
How it works
Basal cell carcinoma is linked to mutations in genes that are part of a signaling pathway called the hedgehog pathway. Erivedge works by inhibiting the hedgehog pathway.
In addition to helping patients with skin cancer, Erivedge might also treat people with other cancers, such as medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor that occurs in children; pancreatic cancer; and a type of lung cancer. The drug is currently in trials for other cancers.
Erivedge is produced by the company Genentech.
10 step by Reduce the Risk of Cancer
Recent research on the genetics of cancer may lead to impression that some are fated for the disease, but that's not necessarily true.Healthy behaviors could prevent about half of all cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.
Here are 10 lifestyle changes, all based on recent research, that can improve your odds of warding off cancer.
The tips come from Dr. Anne McTiernan, a cancer prevention researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
Many people think cancer is entirely genetic and cannot be avoided, but that's not true.
Healthy behaviors could prevent about half of cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society.
Here are 10 lifestyle changes, all based on the latest research, that can improve the odds against cancer. The tips come from Dr. Anne McTiernan of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
- Don’t smoke or use any other tobacco products. If you’ve tried to quit before, don’t give up — eventually something will work.
1. Don't smoke or use any tobacco products. Smoking causes a host of cancers, including cancers of the lung, esophagus, mouth, throat, stomach and pancreas, according to the National Cancer Institute. It's also the leading cause of premature, preventable death in the United States. If you've tried to quit before, don't give up — eventually something will work, McTiernan said.
2. Get screened for cancer regularly. Screening tests can detect cancers of the colon, breast, prostate, cervix and skin (ask your doctor how often to get them and at what age you should start). Even if you don't have any symptoms yet, finding cancer early greatly increases your chances of treatment and even cure. Screening tests can include physical exams, blood tests, imaging and X-rays and genetic tests.
6. Keep your weight in the normal range for your height. That means keeping to a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or less. Increases in BMI are linked to endometrial, gall bladder, esophageal, renal, thyroid and colon cancers, according to a 2008 study in the journal Lancet. Try to stay within five to 10 pounds of what you weighed at age 18, the researchers advised.
7. Avoid taking hormone replacement therapy to treat symptoms of menopause. A number of studies have linked hormone use to an increased risk of uterine cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. If you need to take hormones, limit your use to less than five years, the ACS advises.
8. After consulting your doctor, consider taking medications to reduce your cancer risk. There are several medications that have been tested and found effective for reducing risk for cancer. For example, drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators can help women with a high risk of developing breast cancer stay cancer-free, according to the Mayo Clinic.
9. Avoid exposures to cancer-causing substances. Radiation exposures and some chemicals are known to cause cancer. For example, ionizing radiation that comes from gamma rays, high-energy UV rays and X-rays is linked to cancers of the lung, skin, thyroid, breast and stomach, according to the American Cancer Society.
10. Eat a diet that reduces the risk of cancer.
The role of diet in cancer is far from established, but research suggests that a plant-based diet is associated with reduced risks for several cancers, especially colon cancer.
The recommendations include keeping your intake of red meat to no more than four ounces (about the size of a deck of cards) per day on average, avoiding processed meats such as sausages and bologna, eating at least five servings of a variety of non-starchy vegetables and fruits every day, and minimizing your intake of sugary drinks, juices, desserts and candies, refined breads and bagels, and chips.
Comments
Post a Comment