Banana Peels Key to Detecting, Curing Melanoma Skin Cancer: Study

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Just like the skin, banana peels develop spots that indicate infection or irritation, and according to experts, this may help researchers in detecting and finding a cure for melanoma skin cancer.

The said research, published in the Angewandte Chemie Journal, studied how an enzyme called the tyrosinase affects the changes of a ripened banana's skin. Tyrosinase causes the small and black round spots that appear in bananas and the human skin has the same enzyme present in it too.

It is believed that the appearance of the spots happen because the tyrosinase enzyme malfunctions. In human skin, the malfunction can lead to the disruption of pigmentation that is supposed to protect the body from irritants and toxins.

Scientists believe that, when the tyrosinase develops in high numbers, it can potentially lead to dangerous and deadly skin cancer. But, to what degree does tyrosinase malfunction become dangerous? Researchers then conducted chemical tests to measure tyrosinase distribution and formation to find some clues.

The tests were done in both ripened banana peels and human tissue samples that are positive for cancer. The researchers saw the differences in the distribution and formation of the enzymes based on the stages of the diseases.

Phys Org reported that for stage 1 melanoma, tyrosinase is not quite obvious and detectable. For stage 2 melanoma, the enzyme is distributed evenly but in large quantities. For stage 3 melanoma, the presence of tyrosinase is plenty and uneven.

This led researchers headed by Hubert Girault and Tzu-En Lin to conclude that tyrosinase is a good marker for melanoma spread. When tyrosinase malfunction is detected earlier in the skin sample tissues, then there is a better chance the patient can survive the disease.

Consequently, the study also helped cancer experts come up with a new method to determining skin cancer. The researchers used a scanner with well-spaced teeth similar to a comb.  It has microelectrodes that can be lightly passed over the skin without causing any damage or pain. The electrodes detected and calculated tyrosinase distribution. One day, this same devise might be used to not only scan, but also destroy cancer tumors, thus also eliminating the need for chemotherapy among melanoma patients.

"By working with fruit, we were able to develop and test a diagnostic method before trying it on human biopsies," said Girault via Yahoo!. "This system could obviate the need for invasive tests like biopsies."

Girault further explained their research and tests in the video below: