Pharmacological photoprotection in a pre-clinical skin cancer model

Skin cancer, in particular keratinocyte carcinomas, is an increasing problem in Denmark. As the current methods of protection against ultraviolet radiation from the sun have been insufficient to prevent this development, it has become necessary to consider new ways of photoprotection. As such, this project focuses on systemic photoprotection with the purpose of identifying compounds that upon ingestion protect the skin against the damaging effects of the sun. These effects include DNA damage, inflammation, and cellular stress, all of which contribute to the development of skin cancer.

The compounds under investigation are spread across repurposed pharmaceuticals, vitamins, and plant-derived compounds from fruits and vegetables that are already included in a normal diet. To evaluate the compounds’ protective effects, they are tested using pre-clinical methods during ultraviolet radiation comparable to the daily sun exposure. This allows for estimation of the compounds’ photoprotective potential and whether they will be able to prevent or even treat skin cancer in the future.