Sun Damage

biology
+

medicine

Utilizing Low Oxygen Levels

www.hq.nasa.gov
to Treat Melanoma
by Jennifer Awakuni

O
n a cloudy day, up to 80% of the sun’s rays can penetrate of oxygen (hypoxia) at the site of those cells. According to Bedogni,
through clouds, mist and fog. On a snowy day, the snow “Cells can proliferate in environments as low as 1.5% oxygen levels.”
acts as a mirror and reflects up to 95% of the sun’s rays. But once the oxygen levels dip below 1.5% or the cell mass grows
Even water and sidewalks can reflect up to 12% of the larger than 200-300 microns, cells cannot get the nutrients needed
sun’s rays. No matter what the weather is like outside, whenever you from blood vessels and become hypoxic – they suffocate and
leave the house you’re at risk of sunburn, which can lead to serious eventually stop growing.
skin diseases such as melanoma. Under hypoxic settings, a protein called hypoxia-inducible
An article published this year in factor 1 (HIF-1) responds to the lack of oxygen. Rapidly growing

http://dir.nhlbi.nih.gov/labs/lcb/mcb/im-
Nature Medicine, “Oxygen Deprivation tumor cells need more oxygen than normal cells, and so HIF-1 is
Provokes Melanoma,” asserts that upregulated in these cells in order to support their growth.
melanoma has become the most Bedogni found another change in these transformed
aggressive common skin cancer, and its melanocytes: PI3K-AKT, a signaling pathway that regulates
incidence has increased more rapidly cell proliferation as well as other associated biological processes,
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in the United States than any other was activated in 60% of melanomas, suggesting its involvement
malignancy. The article showcases in the development of these tumors. Additionally, she saw that
research by Dr. Barbara Bedogni in increased levels of AKT enzyme resulted in higher levels of HIF-1
the Radiation Oncology Department A melanocyte, responsible for skin in these cells.
at Stanford University, which aims to color, is located in the upper layer With this information, Bedogni decided to use a combination
stop the rapid growth of melanoma of the skin. When transformed it of therapies to target transformed melanocytes. Her lab added
through the correlation of melanoma can develop into melanoma. rapamycin – an anti-tumor agent that prevents cell growth by
sites on the skin and the low levels of oxygen at those sites. blocking protein synthesis - to transformed melanocytes with high
levels of both AKT and HIF, but in a hypoxic setting. The result
Cause and Treatment was an inhibited transformation of the melanocytes. This was a
Melanoma consists of malignant tumors that most commonly breakthrough because although
occur on the skin but can also occur on other parts of the body, the use of rapamycin
especially the eye. These tumors are caused by prolonged exposure has been successful
http://ccr.cancer.gov/staff/images/0_5727_Den-

to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. They are most commonly found at treating some
on the back in men and on the leg in women. The initial onset of breast and kidney
melanoma may appear as a harmless mole or a change in pigment cancers, it has failed
on the surface of the skin, but if not treated immediately, the effects in the late stages of p://
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can be deadly. Melanoma develops from a malignant transformation melanoma. So, the m

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of cells called melanocytes, which are located in the upper layers of use of rapamycin

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the skin and are responsible for skin color. while simultaneously

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There are four standard treatments for melanoma. The first and inhibiting HIF-1
most common is surgery in which the melanoma, some of the tissue in order to create a
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around it, and other affected areas of the body such as lymph nodes hypoxic environment Active AKT is stained brown in this
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are removed. Chemotherapy is another common form of treatment, may result in a more cancer specimen
specifically hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion, in which drugs effective treatment of melanoma.
are injected to stop cancer cells from dividing and sometimes even
destroying them. In addition to surgery and chemotherapy, radiation Protecting Yourself
therapy is used to kill cancer cells by shooting X-rays and other Bedogni’s research so far has been in vitro, meaning that the cells
powerful radiation towards the affected areas. Biological therapy - and the hypoxic conditions have been reproduced in a test tube.
also known as immunotherapy - can also kill cancer cells by using Currently, she is working on moving towards an in vivo model using
drugs that boost the body’s natural immune system defense. mice. But Bedogni’s advice on keeping safe from melanoma is to “do
what common sense tells you:” wear sunscreen. S
Suffocating Tumors
Bedogni has a different approach to the challenge of finding a Jennifer Awakuni is a freshman majoring in Biology with a minor in
more effective treatment for melanoma. In her research, she saw a Psychology. In addition to science writing, she enjoys dancing hula
correlation between the transformed melanocytes and a low level and playing the piano and violin.

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