What if a simple vaccine could help protect your skin from cancer? That’s exactly what researchers at Oregon State University (OSU) are looking into. They’ve been studying how an mRNA-based vaccine—similar to the ones used for COVID-19—might help prevent skin cancers caused by sun exposure.
The Role of Sunlight and Oxidative Stress
Too much time in the sun exposes our skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This exposure causes a kind of damage called oxidative stress, which increases the risk of skin cancers, including melanoma—the deadliest form.
Melanoma develops in cells called melanocytes. These cells produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color and helps protect against sunburn. But when these cells are exposed to UV rays, they also produce damaging molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS). Over time, ROS can harm DNA and lead to cancer.
The TR1 Protein: Your Skin's Natural Defense
That’s where the TR1 protein comes in. TR1 is part of the skin’s antioxidant defense system. It helps neutralize those harmful ROS molecules before they cause damage. Think of TR1 as your skin’s internal clean-up crew—keeping things stable and preventing chain reactions that can hurt cells.
But if TR1 levels are low, your skin becomes more vulnerable to UV damage. So the idea is: what if we could help the body produce more TR1 when it needs it most?
Enter the mRNA Vaccine
Like the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, this experimental skin vaccine would use messenger RNA (mRNA) to tell your cells to make more TR1. Once your cells start producing TR1, your skin would have stronger defenses against sun damage.
According to OSU professor Arup Indra, people who spend a lot of time outdoors—like construction workers, farmers, or lifeguards—could benefit the most. The vaccine could be given once a year to help reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Why Not Just Take Antioxidants?
For years, scientists have studied dietary antioxidants like vitamins C and E to prevent cancer. But those haven’t always worked well in clinical trials. In some cases, they’ve even caused harm. That’s why OSU researchers are excited about the idea of targeting antioxidants where they’re needed most—right inside skin cells.
Interestingly, even when other antioxidants were present, cells without TR1 still showed more DNA damage and stress. This suggests that TR1 might play a unique and essential role.
Still Early Days
The vaccine idea is promising, but it’s still in the research phase. The OSU team needs to develop the actual vaccine, test it in preclinical trials, and see how well it works in boosting antioxidant levels in the body.
Still, this research could open the door to a new way of preventing not just skin cancer, but possibly other diseases linked to oxidative stress.
The Bottom Line
A yearly shot that helps your skin protect itself from sun damage? That could be a game-changer—especially for people at high risk of skin cancer. While more research is needed, this work from OSU offers a glimpse into how science is pushing the boundaries of disease prevention.
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022202X21026051?via…
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