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Urocanic acid isomers in patients with basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous malignant melanoma
Author(s) -
F. de Fine Olivarius,
Jørgen LockAndersen,
Finn Breinholt Larsen,
Hans Christian Wulf,
John Crosby,
Mary Norval
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1998.02264.x
Subject(s) - urocanic acid , basal cell carcinoma , skin cancer , melanoma , irradiation , basal (medicine) , basal cell , chemistry , ultraviolet radiation , dermatology , cancer research , cancer , medicine , pathology , biochemistry , enzyme , radiochemistry , histidine , physics , nuclear physics , insulin
Urocanic acid (UCA) is a major chromophore for ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the skin. On UV exposure, the naturally occurring trans ‐isomer converts to the cis ‐isomer in a dose‐dependent manner. Accumulating evidence indicates that cis ‐UCA acts as an initiator of the UV‐induced suppression of certain skin immune functions. This immunomodulation is recognized as an important factor in the development of skin cancer. In this study, pigmentation and UCA isomers were measured in 29 patients with previous basal cell carcinoma (BCC), 23 patients with previous cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM), and 32 healthy controls. Measurements were performed on UV‐exposed (forehead, upper back) and UV non‐exposed (buttock) skin. No significant differences in pigmentation percentage, total UCA concentration, relative (%) or absolute (nmol/cm 2 ) cis ‐UCA concentration were observed between the groups in any of the body sites studied. The net production of cis ‐UCA after irradiation with a single test UV dose was evaluated. The relative production of cis ‐UCA following irradiation was significantly higher in both cancer groups when compared with the control group, while no significant difference was found between the BCC and the MM patients.