Cancer of Skin
Squamous cell skin cancer is a type of tumor that affects middle layer of skin. Any change in an existing wart, mole or other skin lesion or the development of a new growth that ulcerates and does not heal well, could indicate skin cancer. Skin cancer has a high cure rate if it is treated early, but neglect allows the cancer to spread, causing disability or death.
Over 90% of skin cancers occur on areas of skin that are regularly exposed to sunlight or other ultraviolet radiation. This is considered the primary cause of all skin cancers.
Other risks include older age, genetic predisposition (skin cancers are more common in those who have light-colored skin, blue or green eyes, and blond or red hair), chemical pollution and overexposure to x-rays or other forms of radiation. Exposure to arsenic which may be present in some herbicides is another risk for development of skin cancers.
Squamous cell cancer is a malignant tumor. It is more aggressive than basal cell cancer, but still may be relatively slow-growing. It is more likely than basal cell cancer to spread (metastasize) to other locations, including internal organs. Incidence of skin cancer has increased greatly
Squamous cell cancer involves cancerous changes to the cells of the middle portion of epidermal skin layer. It is usually painless initially, but becomes painful with development of ulcers that do not heal. This cancer begins in
normal skin - in the skin of a burn, injury, or scar -- or at a site of chronic inflammation (which occurs with many skin disorders). It most often originates from sun-damaged skin areas, such as actinic keratosis. It usually begins after age 50.
Symptoms
- Skin lesion, growth or bump.
- Small, lasion
- Firm, Skin
- Reddened, Skin
- Nodule or flat growth.
- Growth may be cone-shaped.
- Surface may be scaly or crusted.
- Usually located on face, ears, neck, hands and arms.
- Occurs on lip, mouth, tongue, genitals or other areas.
Role of Noni in Squamous Cell Skin Cancer
Anticancer property
Noni ppt (polysaccharide) is a unique polysaccharide that is used as a chemo-immunotherapy agent to treat cancer. NONI-ppt present in NONI develops an anti-tumor response by stimulating release of various cytokines mediator of immune system of human body like
- Interleukin
- Interferon, gamma
- Nitric oxide
- Tumour necrosis factor
- Natural killer cells
They control carcinogenesis by inhibiting growth and mutation of malignant cells.
Pretreatment with Noni followed by ultraviolet irradiation increased levels of phosphorylated extra cellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and stress-activated protein kinases (SAPK) enzymes in the body. Activation of SARK and ERKs play an important role in triggering apoptosis. Thus their activation proves stimulatory effect of Noni on ultraviolet-induced apoptosis
Noni exhibits antiangiogenesis effects on malignant cells.
The cancer tumor has the ability to develop its own blood vessels around it to get their nutrition for growth by the process of angiogenesis. Many phytochemicals present in NONI like Damnacanthal, Alizarin, Limonene, Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) etc, just a few among the 150+ phytochemicals present in Noni exhibit ANTIANGIOGENESIS effect on the malignant cells Thus inhibits the growth and mutations of malignant cells and induces program cell death or apoptosis.
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg)
EGCg is a polyphenolic flavonoids antioxidant found in abundance in Noni. EGCg in Noni inhibits quinol oxidase (NOX) enzyme tumor activity property thus helps in antiangiogenesis.
NOX enzymes are found in a variety of cell types and tissues where they react with oxygen to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), the free radical forms of oxygen that damages DNA of cell.
The ROS is involved in mutations and tissue damage in diseases such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Normal amounts of NOX production are important to regulate cell growth. It is generally inactive during the normal cell division process on response to growth hormone stimulation but it is active in all the time in cancerous cell and responsible for cancerous cell proliferation, cell motility, invasion and angiogenesis process, all of them prerequisites for tumor metastasis.
EGCg, a primary component of NONI inhibits the NOX activity of cancer cells. According to Dr. Morre's experimental studies, EGCg in NONI inhibits NOX carcinogenesis but does not inhibit the NOX activity of healthy cells.
Noni prevents the carcinogen DNA adduct formation on cell
Most chemical carcinogens need activation by human body enzymes to be transformed to an ultimate form that readily binds to genetic DNA to form DNA adducts. Carcinogen DNA adducts formation causes DNA damage. Carcinogen DNA adducts can be repaired by body enzymes. The unprepared DNA damaged cell will be responsible for mutation and the consequent cancer development. Therefore preventing carcinogen-DNA adduct formation is a key step for primary prevention in cancer at the initiation step of carcinogenesis.
Noni helps in prevention or block the formation of carcinogen induced DNA adduct. It may prevent cancer at the initiation stage of carcinogenesis.
Role of Antioxidants in Cancer Prevention
Oxidative stress in human body is the underlying cause of cancer. When excessive free radicals are allowed to exist near the nucleus of cell, significant damage to the DNA of cell can result. Free radicals can also wreck damage on genetic structure of DNA, which can then lead to abnormal growth of cell. As these cells continue to replicate, this mutated DNA ia carried to each newly developed cell. When there is further oxidative stress to this mutated DNA of the cell, more damage occurs. The cell will then begin to grow out of control. It spreads from one part of the body to other(metastasis), thus becoming a true cancer
Oxidative stress is indeed the cause of cancer, antioxidants used to bring free radicals back into balance would lower the risk of cancer. Therefore the best strategy is to maximize your own body's immune system and antioxidant defense and this begins by eating a healthy natural suppliment rich antioxidants. Noni is the rich source of antioxidants. The high antioxidant property of Noni helps to prevent the formation of carcinogen-DNA adducts. It was hypothesized that the antioxidants in Noni may have cancer protective effects by scavenging reactive oxygen free radicals and quenching lipid peroxides.
