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Brief Communications
Nature 413, 271-272 (20 September 2001) | doi:10.1038/35095108
Neonatal sunburn and melanoma in mice
Frances P. Noonan1, Juan A. Recio2, Hisashi Takayama2, Paul Duray3, Miriam R. Anver4, Walter L. Rush5, Edward C. De Fabo1 & Glenn Merlino2
Abstract
Severe sunburn in newborn, but not adult, mice is linked with melanoma in later life.
Abstract
Retrospective epidemiological data have indicated that cutaneous malignant melanoma may arise as a consequence of intense, intermittent exposure of the skin to ultraviolet radiation, particularly in children, rather than from the cumulative lifetime exposure that is associated with other forms of skin cancer1, 2, 3. Here we use a genetically engineered mouse model to show that a single dose of burning ultraviolet radiation to neonates, but not adults, is necessary and sufficient to induce tumours with high penetrance which are reminiscent of human melanoma. Our results provide experimental support for epidemiological evidence that childhood sunburn poses a significant risk of developing this potentially fatal disease.
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