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Tea tree olie als behandeling van huidkanker*
Uit een Australische studie weliswaar nog met muizen lijkt het dat tea tree olie een goedkopen en effectieve manier kan zijn om de meest voorkomende vorm van huidkanker te behandelen. In de studie waren de muizen met opperhuidkanker of non-melanoma huidkanker, die behandeld werden met een 10% tee trea oplossing in DMSO binnen 3 dagen verlost van de huidkanker. (DMSO, dimethylsulfoxide is een kleurloze vloeistof die snel wordt opgenomen in de huid en al bijna vijftig jaar voor verschillende toepassingen gebruikt wordt.)
Tea Tree Oil May Treat Skin Cancer
Researchers have found that tea tree oil may be a fast, inexpensive, and effective treatment for some forms of skin cancer. In a recent study, investigators found that the natural remedy--which is sometimes used on insect bites and acne--shrunk non-melanoma skin cancers in mice after just one day and eradicated the cancers within three days. The scientists say tea tree oil, which is derived from a plant in New South Wales in Australia, may work by activating the body's immune response
Abstract 
Purpose 
Systemic toxicity coupled with long treatment regimes of approved topical chemotherapeutic agents such as imiquimod and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are limiting. There is now more focus on the potential use of topical terpene agents as skin cancer treatments. Here, we show for the first time that topical Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil (TTO), abundant in terpenes, has in vivo antitumour activity. 
Method 
Topical TTO formulations applied to immunocompetent tumour-bearing mice were assessed for antitumour efficacy by monitoring tumour growth and by histological analysis following treatment. 
Results 
Four, daily, topical treatments of 10% TTO/DMSO regressed subcutaneous AE17 mesotheliomas in mice for a period of 10 days and significantly retarded the growth of subcutaneous B16-F10 melanomas. The antitumour effect of topical 10% TTO/DMSO was accompanied by skin irritation similar to other topical chemotherapeutic agents, but unlike other approved topical agents, quickly and completely resolved. Furthermore, we show that topical 10% TTO/DMSO caused an influx of neutrophils and other immune effector cells in the treated area, with no evidence of systemic toxicity. 
Conclusion 
TTO combined with an effective carrier significantly inhibited the growth of aggressive, subcutaneous, chemo-resistant tumours in immunocompetent mice. Taken together, these findings highlight the potential of topical TTO as an alternative topical antitumour treatment. (Oktober 2010)