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Sunlight and skin cancer: Inhibition of p53 mutations in UV-irradiated mouse skin by sunscreens

Nature Medicine volume 3, pages 510–514 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

UV-induced mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene play an essential role in skin cancer development. We report here that such mutations can be detected in UV-irradiated mouse skin months before the gross appearance of skin tumors. Application of SPF-15 sunscreens to mouse skin before each UV irradiation nearly abolished the frequency of p53 mutations. These results indicate that p53 mutation is an early event in UV skin carcinogenesis and that inhibition of this event may serve as an early end point for assessing protective measures against skin cancer development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Box 178, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA

    Honnavara N. Ananthaswamy, Susan M. Loughlin, Patricia Cox, Randall L. Evans, Stephen E. Ullrich & Margaret L. Kripke

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  1. Honnavara N. Ananthaswamy
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  2. Susan M. Loughlin
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  3. Patricia Cox
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  6. Margaret L. Kripke
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Ananthaswamy, H., Loughlin, S., Cox, P. et al. Sunlight and skin cancer: Inhibition of p53 mutations in UV-irradiated mouse skin by sunscreens. Nat Med 3, 510–514 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0597-510

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