Hsp90 inhibitor can inhibit UV carcinogenesis.

Extensive exposure to solar UVR is a well-recognized etiologic factor for cutaneous non-melanoma skin cancer. In this issue of the Journal, Singh et al. show that topical treatment of the skin with 17-[allylamino]-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17AAG), a heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor, prevents UVR-induced squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) in mice. The inhibitory effect of 17AAG on SCC was associated with the inhibition of the UVR-induced (i) hyperplastic response, (ii) Hsp90β-PKCɛ interaction, and (iii) pStat3 and pAkt expression in mouse skin.