Black Spotted Bananas Mirror Melanoma Risk in Humans

Human skin and bananas have something in common which may help in developing accurate diagnostic methods for melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

Ripened bananas with black spots may do the trick for skin cancer diagnosis by boosting survival chances, revealed a new study.

When bananas ripen, their skin is covered in small, round black spots caused by an enzyme known as tyrosinase. The same enzyme is present in human skin, and in greater quantities in people suffering from melanoma -- a potentially deadly form of skin cancer.

Food Additive That may Prevent Skin Cancer Identified
Bixin a bright reddish orange compound found in annatto a natural food additive prevents the formation of cancer cells and skin damage from UV radiation.

‘A newly developed cancer scanner has identified and eliminated black spots on ripened banana peel caused by enzyme tyrosinase, which is also responsible for melanoma in humans.’

A team of scientists used this observed commonality to build a cancer scanner, which they then refined and tested at length on banana peels before moving on to human tissue.

First, researchers at the Laboratory of Physical and Analytical Electrochemistry in Switzerland concluded that the enzyme is a reliable marker of melanoma growth. The research was published in the German science journal Angewandte Chemie.

In the earliest stage 1 of cancer, the enzyme is not very apparent, becoming widespread and evenly distributed in stage 2, and unevenly distributed in stage 3 -- by when the cancer has started spreading to other parts of the body. The earlier the cancer is detected, the greater the chances of survival.

Drugs Made From Banana Protein Could Help Fight AIDS and Many Deadly Diseases
A protein called banana lectin, or BanLec, could keep the virus that causes AIDS from getting into cells and also fight against Hepatitis C and Influenza viruses.

According to the American Cancer Society, people have a 10-year survival rate of 95 percent if the melanoma is detected in stage 1 -- falling to 43 percent by mid-stage 3.

The team developed a scanner and tested it on banana peel spots -- which are roughly the same size as melanoma spots on human skin.

Full-Body Skin Cancer Screening May Not Save Lives
A task force was unable to decipher the effects of frequent, full-body screening on people at high risk for melanoma or other skin cancers.

"By working with fruit, we were able to develop and test a diagnostic method before trying it on human biopsies," said team leader Hubert Girault.

The scanner has eight flexible microelectrodes, spaced like comb teeth, that pass over the skin to measure the quantity and distribution of tyrosinase.

Cancer Council Australia Issues New Set of Vitamin D Guidelines to Avoid Skin Cancer Risk
The Cancer Council Australia, the Australian College of Dermatologists and Osteoporosis Australia have released new recommendations for sun exposure.

"This system could obviate the need for invasive tests like biopsies," the team said.

Girault believes the scanner could be used one day to destroy tumors, hopefully rendering biopsies and even chemotherapy unnecessary.

"Our initial laboratory tests showed us that our device could be used to destroy the cells," he said.

Source-AFP