A drug prescribed for patients affected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is likely to prevent skin cancer developing resistance at the initial stages suggests a new study. The experiment carried out in mice showed that the drug nelfinavir works by blocking the molecular switches which boosts cells' ability to survive treatment. In the first few weeks of standard treatment for skin cancer the cancer cells become stronger and more robust against treatment. But if we can target skin cancer cells before they become fully resistant we would have a much better chance of blocking their escape said lead author
