Compounds found in green veggies such as cabbage and broccoli may be the secret to fighting melanoma — the most serious form of skin cancer.
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine found that these compounds when combined with selenium, target tumors more safely and effectively than conventional therapy.
PHOTOS: The ABCDs of Skin Cancer.
"There are currently no drugs to target the proteins that trigger melanoma," Gavin Robertson, associate professor of pharmacology, pathology and dermatology at Penn State College of Medicine said in a news release.
"We have developed drugs from naturally occurring compounds that can inhibit the growth of tumors in mice by 50 to 60 percent with a very low dose."
While the findings are very promising, human trials of the new drug are still years away. Researchers are hopeful the drug could be delivered either intravenously to treat melanoma, or added to sunscreen lotion to prevent the disease.
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