DFMO, or a-difluoromethylornithine - an antiparasitic agent used to treat African sleeping sickness may help prevent nonmelanoma skin cancers, say researchers.
Skin Cancer - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention
Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells. It can develop due to a continuous exposure to sun over the years.
Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells. It can develop due to a continuous exposure to sun over the years.
The researchers also wanted to ensure there were no obvious deleterious effects associated with the drug, according to Howard H. Bailey, M.D., professor of medicine, and study presenter Sarah Lamont, a medical student, both from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
"We found there is still evidence that the men and women assigned to DFMO for five years continued to have a lower incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers compared with people assigned to placebo," Bailey said.
Trypanosomiasis / Sleeping sickness - Introduction
Sleeping sickness or Trypanosomiasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease which can trigger life-threatening complications in the absence of treatment
Sleeping sickness or Trypanosomiasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease which can trigger life-threatening complications in the absence of treatment
"Our data suggest that the protective event that we saw in our prospective study appears to continue and there was no evidence of any rebound effect.
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However, Bailey cautioned, more studies are needed before DFMO can be recommended as a prophylaxis against nonmelanoma skin cancers.
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Cancer Prevention thro' Lifestyle Changes
Did u know that simple changes in lifestyle could lower your cancer risks? Find out how!
Did u know that simple changes in lifestyle could lower your cancer risks? Find out how!
Source-ANI
