Page 25 - The Hormel Institute 2024 Annual Report

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The incidences of sunlight-induced skin cancers or cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) are increasing at an
alarming rate. The increase is due to, at least in part, because primary skin cancer prevention strategies—education and sun avoidance—have had limited success.
This is made obvious by the fact that exposure to sunlight ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is respon- sible for at least 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). Skin cancer will affect 1 in 5 Americans by the age of 70 at an estimated an- nual cost of more than $8 billion. Although sun protection is recommended, active prevention interventions are generally not used until the de- velopment of actinic keratoses (AKs) or cSCCs.
Patients with large burdens of AKs or cSCCs require combinational or rotational therapies,
ranging from topical to systemic agents, and often will try several modalities to find the “best fit.” The current interventions have strengths and weaknesses in efficacy and side effects, including irritation, skin crusting, ulceration, pain, swelling, lipid and hepatic toxicities. These side effects limit their application in at risk popula- tions prior to presentation of a high burden of AKs or cSCCs.
Our work focuses on clearer identification of the regulatory interplay in multiple skin-specif- ic mechanisms and pathways that drive the early and overall processes of sun-induced skin carcinogenesis that could lead to more person- alized prevention strategies. The net result we seek is the development of effective non-toxic preventive and therapeutic strategies, including effective sunscreens, against sun-induced skin damage, AKs, and SCCs.
Skin cancer will affect 1 in 5 Americans by the age of 70 at an estimated annual cost of more than $8 billion. We seek to develop effective non- toxic preventive and therapeutic strategies against sun-induced skin damage.