531 Skin-derived beta-endorphin mediates radiation therapy fatigue

Beta-endorphin cell therapy for cancer prevention.

β-Endorphin (BEP)-producing neuron in the hypothalamus plays a key role in bringing the stress axis to a state of homeostasis and maintaining body immune defense system. Long-term delivery of BEP to obtain beneficial effect on chemoprevention is challenging, as the peptides rapidly develop tolerance. Using rats as animal models, we show here that transplantation of BEP neurons into the hypothal...

Skin β-Endorphin Mediates Addiction to UV Light

UV light is an established carcinogen, yet evidence suggests that UV-seeking behavior has addictive features. Following UV exposure, epidermal keratinocytes synthesize proopiomelanocortin (POMC) that is processed to melanocyte-stimulating hormone, inducing tanning. We show that, in rodents, another POMC-derived peptide, β-endorphin, is coordinately synthesized in skin, elevating plasma levels a...

Skin Reaction in Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer

Introduction The first medical intervention for many breast cancer patients is breast conserving surgery (BCS) and/or modified radical mastectomy (MRM). Most of these patients undergo radiation therapy, following surgery. The most common side-effect of breast radiotherapy is skin damage. In the present study, the severity of acute skin changes and the underlying causes were investigated in pati...

Radiation Therapy and Skin Cancer

Although radiation therapy (RT) can be very beneficial in a number of cutaneous malignancies, it tends to be a relatively underutilized therapy for a number of reasons. The hesitancy on the part of dermatologists to recommend RT is driven by a number of issues. First and foremost is perception inherent in dermatology training programs. All dermatologists in training encounter patients harmed by...

Beta radiation lesion of the skin.