An HIV treatment could bring experts "one step closer" to preventing skin cancer from becoming drug resistant, a study suggests.
Cancer cells transform themselves to withstand drugs, researchers found, but the anti-HIV drug nelfinavir blocks the transformation.
The study carried out on mice shows that when used in combination with standard cancer treatments it can delay the effects of drug resistance, making available treatment effective for a longer period of time.
Professor Claudia Wellbrock, who led the study from the University of Manchester, said cancer cells become stronger and more robust against treatment during the first few weeks.
"But if we can target skin cancer cells before they become fully resistant, we would have a much better chance of blocking their escape," she said.
"And we think this research has brought us one step closer to making this a reality."
Professor Nic Jones, Director of Cancer Research UK's Manchester Institute, said the findings could a step toward being able to fight back against resistance.
"Drug resistance in late stage skin cancer is still a big problem and something we need to tackle," he said.
"We've seen big steps forward recently with the development of immunotherapies, but this exciting approach could stop skin cancer developing resistance at an earlier point."
The study is funded by Cancer Research UK and the results are expected in August 2016.
