Older skin cancer more likely to resist treatment

PEOPLE with the deadly skin cancer melanoma are more likely to see it spread and not respond to treatment if they, are ageing new research says.

The risk of cancer increases with age as accumulated damage to cells and chronic inflammation occur over time.

The new study, published in the journal Nature, shows that aged tumour cells in melanoma behave differently than younger tumour cells.

Changes in the cell’s micro-environment make these older tumour cells more metastatic and more resistant to treatment with targeted therapies.

Instead scientists suggest antioxidants could serve as a better treatment strategy for older patients with melanoma.

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and patients with advanced cases of the disease only have a 20 per cent chance of surviving five years after their diagnosis.

Multiple targeted therapies have been approved in the last few years, but patients who receive these drugs eventually relapse and become resistant to these treatment options.

Scientists at The Wistar Institute in the US have pinpointed age-related changes that occur in the micro-environment of tumour cells.

Cells found in the skin called dermal fibroblasts help the skin recover from injuries, and can contribute to the growth and invasion of melanoma cells.

Dr Ashani Weeraratna said: “It’s fascinating to see that the micro-environment can have such a profound effect.”