Effects of black raspberries on UV-induced cutaneous inflammation and tumor development

Abstract

Sunlight is the most common carcinogen that we are exposed to on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the target of this complete carcinogen is our skin. In recent years, the frequency of skin cancer has increased due to both to a decrease in the ozone layer as well as changes in tanning practices, including increased tanning bed use. In fact these skin tumors are by far the most common form of cancer in humans, with over 1 million new cases identified in the United States each year. More Americans will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer than all other cancers combined. Repeated severe sunburns or intense sun exposure in a short time period have been shown to be risk factors for development of both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Current treatment modalities for nonmelanoma skin cancers include surgical excision, cryotherapy, radiotherapy or topical treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs, immune response modifiers or anti-inflammatory agents. These treatments range in severity of side effects including (but not limited to); ulceration, scarring, long duration of inflammation and pain at site of application. In addition, long treatment periods reduce compliance, and often have limited clinical efficacy. Therefore, alternative preventive and treatment strategies are needed. Increasing evidence suggests that natural compounds derived from functional foods can be use as a safe alternative to prevent or treat diseases. This chapter discusses the efficacy of using black raspberry extracts as a potential chemopreventive/chemotherapeutic agent against NMSC. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.