Drug Discovery and Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Banana Peels Can Help Identify Melanoma Stages

By Drug Discovery Trends Editor | February 17, 2016

Human skin and banana peels have something in common: they produce the same enzyme when attacked. By studying fruit, researchers have come up with an accurate method for diagnosing the stages of this form of skin cancer. 

When bananas age they become covered in black spots caused by the enzyme tyrosinase. It is a natural browning process common among certain organisms, including food. This same enzyme also plays a role in the type of skin cancer known as melanoma. This cancer’s tell-tale spots are the result of a malfunction in the regulation of tyrosinase. The malfunction disrupts the pigmentation of the skin by melanin, the body’s natural protection against the sun. Chemist Tzu-En Lin took advantage of the fact that tyrosinase occurs in both ripe fruit and human melanoma to develop an imaging technique capable of measuring tyrosinase levels and its distribution in human skin.

Research was first conducted on ripe fruit and then on samples of cancerous tissue. It was shown that the level and distribution of tyrosinase was indicative of the stage of the disease. It is not very apparent in stage 1; in stage 2 it is present in large amounts and evenly distributed; and in stage 3 it is unevenly distributed. The team, which is directed by Hubert Girault at the Laboratory of Physical and Analytical Electrochemistry at Sion (EPFL Valais Wallis), determined that this enzyme is a reliable marker of melanoma growth.

“The spots on human skin and on a banana peel are roughly the same size. By working with fruit, we were able to develop and test a diagnostic method before trying it on human biopsies,” said Dr. Girault.

The researchers made a scanner with eight microelectrodes lined up like the teeth of a comb and as flexible as the fingers of a hand. These tiny sensors pass over the uneven surface of the skin without damaging it and measure the electrochemical response within an area of a few square millimeters. The electrodes calculate the quantity and distribution of tyrosinase, which allows the researchers to determine the stage of the melanoma. This system could obviate the need for invasive tests like biopsies.

The next step will be to use this same scanner to view the tumors and eliminate them. “Our initial laboratory tests showed us that our device could be used to destroy the cells,” said Dr. Girault.

Source: EPFL


Filed Under: Drug Discovery

 

Related Articles Read More >

Lokavant’s Spectrum v15 uses AI to cut trial-feasibility modeling from weeks to minutes
Prime time for peptide-based drug discovery 
Why smaller, simpler molecular glues are gaining attention in drug discovery
Glass vial, pipette and woman scientist in laboratory for medical study, research or experiment. Test tube, dropper and professional female person with chemical liquid for pharmaceutical innovation
Unlocking ‘bench-to-bedside’ discoveries requires better data sharing and collaboration
“ddd
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest news and trends happening now in the drug discovery and development industry.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
Drug Discovery and Development
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • Medtech100 Index
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Subscribe to our E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Drug Discovery & Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE