An international evaluation of the cancer-preventive potential of sunscreens - Meeting held at Lyon, France, 10-18, 2000

The IARC convened a working group of experts in Lyon, France, on 10-18 Apri l, 2000, to evaluate the cancer-preventive activity of sunscreens and to co mpile the fifth volume of the IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention. The work ing group concluded that the topical use of sunscreens reduces the risk of sunburn in humans and that sunscreens probably prevent squamous-cell carcin oma of the skin when used mainly during unintentional sun exposure. No conc lusion can be drawn about the cancer-preventive activity of topical use of sunscreens against basal-cell carcinoma and cutaneous melanoma. Use of suns creens can extend the duration of intentional sun exposure, such as sunbath ing. Such an extension may increase the risk for cutaneous melanoma. The wo rking group warned against relying solely on sunscreens for protection from UV radiation. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.