title: UVB and caffeine: inhibiting the DNA damage response to protect against the adverse effects of UVB.
abstract: The incidence of sunlight-induced skin cancer is increasing. Mouse studies indicate that caffeine, administered orally or topically, promotes apoptosis of UVB-irradiated keratinocytes. In this issue, Heffernan and colleagues identify the pathway targeted by caffeine and suggest that inhibition of this DNA damage response may offer a viable therapeutic option for nonmelanoma skin cancer. This potentially represents an important protective or therapeutic option from the most unlikely of sources: your daily coffee.
authors.affiliation: Human DNA Damage Response Disorders Group, Genome Damage & Stability Centre, University of Sussex, East Sussex, UK.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kerzendorfer
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Driscoll
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D002110:Caffeine