August 15, 2011

expert reaction to new research on the key to caffeine’s anti-cancer properties

New research identified the likely mechanism by which caffeine reduces the risk of the commonest form of skin cancer.

Prof Dot Bennett, Professor of Cell Biology, St George’s, University of London, said:

“Interesting progress on the likely mechanism by which caffeine reduces the risk of the commonest form of skin cancer (Squamous cell carcinoma). The authors suggest adding caffeine or related molecules to sunscreens. First one might want to check there is no adverse effect of caffeine on the incidence of other cancers, especially melanoma (pigmented skin cancer), which kills over four times as many people as SCC. But caffeine lotion might promote tanning a little, since this family of molecules stimulates pigment cells to make more pigment.”

‘Protection from UV-induced skin carcinogenesis by genetic inhibition of the ATR kinase’, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday 15 August.