43
process that implies the alteration of cellular DNA either as a result of changes to the
DNA sequence or in its structure (Griffiths et al. 1998). Thus, the mutations generated by UV radiation (mutagenic agent) can be responsible for the development of
cancer (carcinogenic agent). Skin carcinogenesis through DNA damage is thus considered a predominant paradigm for UV toxicity (Kim and He 2014).
4.2.1.4 The Necessity to Improve Skin Cancer Diagnosis and Treatments
Assessments by UNEP show increases in skin cancer incidence and sunburn severity due to stratospheric ozone depletion for at least the first half of the twenty-first
century. On the other hand, insufficient strategies regarding primary prevention
increase skin cancer incidence. Primarily, social and cultural behaviors directly
inhibit the success of skin cancer awareness campaigns. Secondly, primary prevention represents the most cost-effective approach to reducing cancer and other NCDs,
and it is no clear its impact in the future years (Adami et al. 2001). Besides, despite
cancer being a global public health problem, many governments have not yet
included cancer prevention in their agendas. In fact, only a few countries, such as
Scotland, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Canada, or Australia, have
regulations regarding the use of tanning beds (Mitchell 2018; “From Australia to
Brazil: sun worshippers beware” 2009; Stark 2009). This situation heightens the
significance of secondary prevention in the fight against this type of cancer. As a
result, early detection and treatment are key components of skin cancer control,
particularly with regard to reducing morbidity and mortality in the short term
(Iannacone and Green 2014). Strategies to go deeper into the etiology of skin cancer
are needed in order to improve cancer diagnosis and treatments.
In the last few years, a strong effort has been made to elucidate the cellular
mechanisms responsible for protecting cells from cancer development after UV
radiation. UV rays affect the integrity of the genome, creating genomic instability,
a major driving force for the generation of tumors and cancer. Genomic instability
refers to alterations in the DNA molecules as a consequence of 1) errors produced
during DNA duplication, 2) lesions generated by several mutagenic agents and 3)
alterations in metabolic pathways, among others. While a considerable amount of
knowledge is available concerning the interaction of UV rays with the DNA, controversy exists as to which UV-lesion constitutes the most important type of premutagenic damage (UNEP 1987). Therefore, in-depth knowledge on the underlying
mechanisms involved in the cellular response following detection and processing of
UV-induced lesions in the genome has become one of the important areas of biomedical research in the context of human health (Roy 2017). This chapter will introduce the latest advances in some of these molecular pathways and demonstrates the
contribution of these scientific breakthroughs to the improvement of human health,
specifically in terms of secondary prevention.
4 SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being
process that implies the alteration of cellular DNA either as a result of changes to the
DNA sequence or in its structure (Griffiths et al. 1998). Thus, the mutations generated by UV radiation (mutagenic agent) can be responsible for the development of
cancer (carcinogenic agent). Skin carcinogenesis through DNA damage is thus considered a predominant paradigm for UV toxicity (Kim and He 2014).
4.2.1.4 The Necessity to Improve Skin Cancer Diagnosis and Treatments
Assessments by UNEP show increases in skin cancer incidence and sunburn severity due to stratospheric ozone depletion for at least the first half of the twenty-first
century. On the other hand, insufficient strategies regarding primary prevention
increase skin cancer incidence. Primarily, social and cultural behaviors directly
inhibit the success of skin cancer awareness campaigns. Secondly, primary prevention represents the most cost-effective approach to reducing cancer and other NCDs,
and it is no clear its impact in the future years (Adami et al. 2001). Besides, despite
cancer being a global public health problem, many governments have not yet
included cancer prevention in their agendas. In fact, only a few countries, such as
Scotland, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Brazil, Canada, or Australia, have
regulations regarding the use of tanning beds (Mitchell 2018; “From Australia to
Brazil: sun worshippers beware” 2009; Stark 2009). This situation heightens the
significance of secondary prevention in the fight against this type of cancer. As a
result, early detection and treatment are key components of skin cancer control,
particularly with regard to reducing morbidity and mortality in the short term
(Iannacone and Green 2014). Strategies to go deeper into the etiology of skin cancer
are needed in order to improve cancer diagnosis and treatments.
In the last few years, a strong effort has been made to elucidate the cellular
mechanisms responsible for protecting cells from cancer development after UV
radiation. UV rays affect the integrity of the genome, creating genomic instability,
a major driving force for the generation of tumors and cancer. Genomic instability
refers to alterations in the DNA molecules as a consequence of 1) errors produced
during DNA duplication, 2) lesions generated by several mutagenic agents and 3)
alterations in metabolic pathways, among others. While a considerable amount of
knowledge is available concerning the interaction of UV rays with the DNA, controversy exists as to which UV-lesion constitutes the most important type of premutagenic damage (UNEP 1987). Therefore, in-depth knowledge on the underlying
mechanisms involved in the cellular response following detection and processing of
UV-induced lesions in the genome has become one of the important areas of biomedical research in the context of human health (Roy 2017). This chapter will introduce the latest advances in some of these molecular pathways and demonstrates the
contribution of these scientific breakthroughs to the improvement of human health,
specifically in terms of secondary prevention.
4 SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being