Health Highlights: Nov. 18, 2008
The skin cancer vaccine for children ages 10 to 12 would protect againstsquamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer, butwould not protect against the more deadly melanoma, said Professor IanFrazer of the University of Queensland.
Like the cervical cancer vaccine, the skin cancer vaccine targetspapillomavirus, which can trigger the development of cancer cells. Thecommon infection is believed to cause at least 5 percent of all cancers, the Telegraph reported.
Frazer presented his findings from the animal tests to the AustralianHealth and Medical Research Congress.
"We now want to test vaccines based on this knowledge in clinical trials,to find out whether we can develop vaccines that could be used to treatpeople at risk of skin cancer," Frazer said.
More From U.S. News
advertisement
