Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
Chemoprevention of skin cancer and photoaging
Annemarie Uliasz1, James M Spencer
1University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Abstract:
Skin cancer and photoaging are thought to be the result of ultraviolet radiation exposure. "Chemoprevention" refers to the prevention of photoaging and skin cancer through the use of pharmacologic agents that inhibit or reverse the process of photoaging or carcinogenesis. As both carcinogenesis and photoaging are multi-step processes, tumor development may be halted at several prospective points of intervention. A wealth of research aimed at chemoprevention is emerging. In this article, a variety of potential chemopreventive agents are discussed, including vitamins, diet, aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and topical agents. Although further studies are warranted to identify and determine the safety and efficacy of new chemotherapeutic agents, it is expected that both systemic and topical agents may soon be available that effectively prevent photoaging and skin cancer development.
Related Concept Videos
Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Mutations
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Pigmentation
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Nucleotide Excision Repair
Cells are regularly exposed to mutagens—factors in the environment that can damage DNA and generate mutations. UV radiation is one of the most common mutagens and is estimated to introduce a significant number of changes in DNA. These include bends or kinks in the structure, which can block DNA replication or transcription. If these errors are not fixed, the damage can cause mutations, which in turn can result in cancer or disease depending on which sequences are...