Inhibition of melanogenesis helps sensitize melanoma cells to gamma radiation

According to a recent report published in the September issue of “International Journal of Cancer” notes that the inhibition of melanogenesis helps sensitize melanoma cells to the gamma radiation.

Dr. Andrzej T. Slominski from the “University of Tennessee Health Science Center” in Memphis said to the Reuters Health that he believes the concept is ready for clinical trials in the very near future. As chelators of heavy metals are allowed by FDA for treatment of diseases, the treatment of intoxication or Wilson disease with heavy metals is one such example.

Dr. Slominski and his colleagues had investigated the susceptibility of human melanoma with varieties of melanin content to gamma radiation. Then they further tested whether melanogenesis inhibition actually radiosensitize human melanoma cells or not.

The report has indicated that the susceptibility of the melanoma cells to gamma radiation had an inverse correlation with their tyrosinase activity and melanin content.

The authors have reported that the treatment of human with N-phenylthiourea, tyrosinase activity inhibitor, or D-penicillamine, a copper chelator, to inhibit the melanogenesis significantly increased melanoma cells susceptibility to therapeutic doses of gamma radiation.

By Jennifer Larson
radRounds Writer
October 17, 2008