<p>A therapy using a form of Vitamin B3 can potentially prevent melanoma - a deadly skin cancer - according to scientists, including one of Indian origin.<br /><br />Researchers from University of Sydney in Australia found that nicotinamide can help reduce or reverse DNA damage, inflammation, and immunosuppression caused by ultraviolet radiation.<br /><br />The cost of nicotinatimide is about USD 10 per month if taken at one gramme per day as recommended, researchers said.<br /><br />Randomised placebo controlled trials are now warranted to determine its efficacy and safety for melanoma prevention, they said.<br /><br />Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) causes DNA damage in melanocytes by producing photolesions such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and 8-oxo-7-hydrodeoxyguanosine.<br /><br />The production of reactive oxygen species by UVR also induces inflammatory cytokines that, together with the inherent immunosuppressive properties of UVR, propagate carcinogenesis, researchers said.<br /><br />Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) enhances DNA repair, modulates the inflammatory environment produced by UVR, and reduces UV- induced immunosuppression.<br /><br />As nicotinamide reduces the incidence of actinic keratoses and nonmelanoma skin cancers in high-risk individuals and enhances repair of DNA damage in melanocytes, it is a promising agent for the chemoprevention of melanoma in high-risk populations.<br /><br />"Nicotinamide has been show in a clinical trial - called ONTRAC - to reduce the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer in high-risk individuals and it would be worthwhile to determine whether it would also be useful for high-risk melanoma patients," said Gary Halliday from University of Sydney.<br />The study was published in the Photodermatology, Photoimmunology and Photomedicine. <br /><br /></p>
<p>A therapy using a form of Vitamin B3 can potentially prevent melanoma - a deadly skin cancer - according to scientists, including one of Indian origin.<br /><br />Researchers from University of Sydney in Australia found that nicotinamide can help reduce or reverse DNA damage, inflammation, and immunosuppression caused by ultraviolet radiation.<br /><br />The cost of nicotinatimide is about USD 10 per month if taken at one gramme per day as recommended, researchers said.<br /><br />Randomised placebo controlled trials are now warranted to determine its efficacy and safety for melanoma prevention, they said.<br /><br />Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) causes DNA damage in melanocytes by producing photolesions such as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and 8-oxo-7-hydrodeoxyguanosine.<br /><br />The production of reactive oxygen species by UVR also induces inflammatory cytokines that, together with the inherent immunosuppressive properties of UVR, propagate carcinogenesis, researchers said.<br /><br />Nicotinamide (Vitamin B3) enhances DNA repair, modulates the inflammatory environment produced by UVR, and reduces UV- induced immunosuppression.<br /><br />As nicotinamide reduces the incidence of actinic keratoses and nonmelanoma skin cancers in high-risk individuals and enhances repair of DNA damage in melanocytes, it is a promising agent for the chemoprevention of melanoma in high-risk populations.<br /><br />"Nicotinamide has been show in a clinical trial - called ONTRAC - to reduce the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer in high-risk individuals and it would be worthwhile to determine whether it would also be useful for high-risk melanoma patients," said Gary Halliday from University of Sydney.<br />The study was published in the Photodermatology, Photoimmunology and Photomedicine. <br /><br /></p>