Skin cancer prevention cream

It won't replace sunscreen, but a new cream could wipe out skin cancer.

Some groups of people are at higher risk of skin cancer than others. Those who have had kidney transplants are one example. A skin cream may offer extra protection, not just for these parents, but for all of us.

Despite a kidney transplant, sixth grader Vallie Hardaman keeps step with her classmates. But before Vallie joins them on the playground, she has to take an extra step, "I put sunscreen on."

Anti-rejection drugs have weakened Vallie's immune system and put her at higher risk for skin cancer. After one year on the drugs, her risk for skin cancer has increased by seven percent. After 20 years, it will increase by 70 percent.

Doctor Craig Elmets is testing a cream called Dimercine. He hopes it will repair sun damaged DNA, which can cause mutations and ultimately skin cancer.

Doctor Elmets says if the cream works for transplant patients, it could work for everyone. But Doctor Elmets says that the experimental cream will not replace sunscreen, "It would be nice if people could use this and provide additional ways of protecting against skin cancer, because sunscreens, although they're effective, certainly are not complete."

But since Vallie's mom won't always be standing guard, it does add an extra line of defense. Her mom, Linda Gunter, appreciates that, "You've done all the hard work until this point, you want things to be easier, so this is one of those things that will make it easier."

That added protection eases Vallie's mind. And in the future, it could ease all of ours. Right now, the study is limited to kidney transplant patients who are at high risk of skin cancer.

If the cream is successful in the group, Doctor Elmet says we could see a clinical trial of this cream that includes all groups of people.