While eczema is a disabling disease, a study in mice reveals that it may have the benefit of protecting against the risk of skin cancer.
People with eczema have an overactive immune system, which means their skin easily becomes dry, inflamed, and most importantly vulnerable to skin infections. Between eczema outbreaks, brushing with emollient or steroid-based creams, the quality of life of people affected by this pathology is sometimes severely reduced, but a recent study could well bring them a glimmer of hope. Indeed, this analysis carried out by researchers from King’s College of London published in the journal eLife reveals that people with eczema may be at lower risk for skin cancer than the rest of the population.
6 times lower risk of skin cancer in mice
Since eczema can result from the lack of certain proteins that form the surface layers of the skin and thus result in a defective skin barrier, this team decided to conduct experiments on genetically modified mice with these types of characteristics. Called “knock-out” mice, these researchers therefore used them to reproduce certain skin defects found in people with eczema. They then compared the effects of 2 carcinogenic chemicals in normal mice and in knockout mice. As a result, the number of benign tumors was six times lower in genetically modified mice than in normal mice. This finding therefore suggests that skin barrier defects could protect against tumor formation.
Towards a preventive strategy against these cancers
In addition, this team observed that it is the exaggerated inflammatory reaction in the knock-out mice, which had led to the improvement of the desquamation of potentially cancerous cells of the skin. According to the conclusions of this study, this mechanism protecting mice against cancer would present similarities with that which naturally protects the skin against environmental attacks such as bacteria. “We are excited about our results because they establish a clear link between susceptibility to cancer and an allergic skin condition,” said Prof. Fiona Watt, co-author of the study. They also confirm the fact that altering the body’s immune system is an important strategy in cancer treatment ”.
While the incidence of skin cancer is on the rise in several countries, some specialists welcome this new lead, highlighting the body’s potential ability to prevent the formation of skin tumors. Pending confirmation of these results in humans, this possible protection against skin cancer represents at least good news for these patients suffering from eczema.
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