Potential new treatment target identified for melanoma skin cancer
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 - 10:30
in Health & Medicine
New research has identified a potential new target for the treatment of melanoma, the deadliest of all skin cancers. Scientists have discovered a new channel-forming protein called Pannexin (Panx1) that is expressed in normal levels on the surface of healthy skin cells. But they found, in melanoma, Panx1 is over-produced to a pathological level. The researchers also discovered that if you reduce it, the cell becomes more normal.