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Medicine in the News Caffeine May Kill Skin Cancer Cells • New study discovers that caffeine may help kill off human cells damaged by UV light (major trigger of skin cancer) • The study only applies to non-melanoma skin cancers, which do not metastasize or cause death in many cases • The study of more than 90,000 Caucasian women found that with every cup of coffee consumed, there was a 5 percent decrease in the risk of developing skin cancer How does it work? • The UV rays can cause DNA to mutate or become cancerous • Cellular suicide (apoptosis)=when the cells become damaged by UV light, cells initiate this suicide program • Without caffeine, 1/500 cells will experience apoptosis when exposed to UV, but with caffeine, 1/200 cells undergo apoptosis Cellular Suicide • The normal cellular response when DNA is damaged is to activate a protein to initiate repair (Protein=ATR) • ATR is caffeine’s target in the cell—Cells that are dividing, precancerous, or damaged need more ATR, but with caffeine, ATR is suppressed • In this way, most of the cells that are likely to become cancerous are killed before they can do so Caffeine and Sunscreen • The study points out that, obviously, decaffeinated coffee does not have the same effect • Also, the study reveals that it would take regularly drinking six cups of coffee a day to decrease the risk of skin cancer by 30 percent • “Caffeine itself is a potent sunscreen,” however it should not replace topical sunscreen used today Conclusion • http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29409056/