UVB and caffeine: inhibiting the DNA damage response to protect against the adverse effects of UVB

The incidence of sunlight-induced skin cancer is increasing. Mouse studies indicate that caffeine, administered orally or topically, promotes apoptosis of UVB-irradiated keratinocytes. In this issue, Heffernan and colleagues identify the pathway targeted by caffeine and suggest that inhibition of this DNA damage response may offer a viable therapeutic option for nonmelanoma skin cancer. This potentially represents an important protective or therapeutic option from the most unlikely of sources: your daily coffee.