Dermytol Produces Pronounced Decrease In Malignant Melanoma Tumor Volume

A new study presented at the Experimental Biology Annual Meeting shows that a proprietary blend extracted from canola, Dermytol, produces a pronounced reduction of malignant melanoma cell growth. Dermytol, a proprietary compound developed by KGK Synergize Inc., a biotechnology company in Ontario Canada, is designed to protect skin cells from damage that may lead to skin cancer.

Mal Evans, DVM, MSc, PhD, KGK Synergize Inc.'s Scientific Director, said, "Skin cancer rates have been rising, and we are likely to see that continue as the population ages. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that more than 62,000 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma and one million Americans will be diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer this year. NCI expects more than 8,000 deaths from melanoma and less than 1,000 deaths from non-melanoma cancers this year.

"Dermytol has the potential to be used in anti-aging and sun-protection products to reduce damage to skin. Results of preclinical trials in animals have been promising leading to human trials now running in both Canada and the United States.

In the most recent study, male mice were fed either a Dermytol-canola oil mixture or just canola oil. In a separate part of the study, researchers applied either a Dermytol cream or a placebo cream onto the shaved skin of a different group of mice. After seven days of treatment, all of the mice were injected with malignant melanoma tumor cells. Dermytol or placebo treatments continued for 25 days.

The mice in both Dermytol groups benefited from their treatments. Compared to the controls, the orally treated mice showed an average decrease in tumor size by about 45 percent. The mice receiving the topical treatment benefited even more with a 61 percent decrease in tumor volume.

In this study and previous preclinical studies, Dermytol produced no adverse effects.

In a laboratory cell culture study, Dermytol inhibited the proliferation of human cancer cells.

In another study, dietary supplementation with Dermytol moderately delayed the onset of skin tumors and significantly reduced tumor growth rate in mice treated to induce non-melanoma skin cancers.

A trial involving 45 subjects with actinic keratoses -- precancerous skin lesions -- is underway. "The current treatment for actinic keratoses is removal by freezing which can be painful or the application of a cream that causes inflammation and blistering of the skin," said Evans. "We expect Dermytol to be a welcome option."