Steroid creams 'shrink melanoma' and could treat other cancers

Credit: Getty Images/stefanamer

By Jane Kirby, PA Media

An unexpected discovery that simple steroid creams can shrink melanoma tumours could help the body fight other cancers, according to new research.

Experts at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute found steroids block a protein called Garp, which helps cancer hide from the immune system. By blocking Garp, the body’s immune system was activated to fight cancer cells.