The high incidence of basal and squamous cell carcinomas is a public health concern especially in light-skinned populations. These nonmelanoma skin cancers are multifactorial in etiology. Evidence from epidemiologic research, as well as data from in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that the...

Exposition of the skin with ultraviolet radiation (UV) is the main cause of skin cancer development. The consistently increasing incidences of melanocytic and nonmelanocytic skin tumors is associated with recreational sun exposure. Epidemiological data indicate that excessive or cumulative...

Although this topic is still a matter of debate, actinic keratoses can now be considered to\r\nrepresent early squamous cell carcinomas in situ.1,10,24,41 However, it appears that only\r\na small proportion of actinic keratoses will develop into an invasive squamous cell carcinoma.\r\nRegression...

Cytogenetic analysis is a powerful tool that allows analysis of chromosomal aberrations associated with diseased states. In particular, a combination of cytogenetic techniques has allowed the identification of aberrations associated with cancer development, including cancers of the skin. This...

Skin cancer is the most common type of human cancer today, and its incidence has been increasing with an astonishing rate. It is estimated that about 70% of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, as a consequence of exposure to sunlight. Stratospheric ozone...

Ever since the discovery of the transforming retroviral v-sis oncogene, which encodes PDGF-B, PDGF signaling has been an interesting target for cancer treatment. In last few years, compelling evidence supports the essential role of PDGF signaling for cancer cell proliferation and tumor...

Beside UV exposure and other exogenous and endogenous factors, the activation of telomerase plays an important role in the cancerogenesis of both skin tumors. Model studies indicate that telomerase activation occurs early in the cancerogenesis of the skin. Telomerase activity (TA) has also been...

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are a large group of infectious agents that induce various lesions of skin and mucosae. The carcinogenic role of HPV types 16 and 18, mediated by inactivation of the tumor suppressor proteins p53 and pRb by the viral oncoproteins E6 and E7, is established for...

The hedgehog signaling pathway plays an important role in the embryonic development of various organ systems including the skin. Aberrant activation of hedgehog signaling by mutations in genes encoding important members of this pathway, such the hedgehog receptor genes PTCH and SMOH, plays a...

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the most frequent tumors in the Caucasian population. The formation of these tumors is a consequence of long term UV-exposure of the skin. UV-light induces DNA damage in cells. If the damaged DNA cannot be repaired or the DNA...

Basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma (nonmelanoma skin cancer = NMSC) are now the most common type of cancer in the Caucasian population, and the incidence of skin cancer has reached epidemic proportions. The highest incidence rates (IR) were reported from population-based studies in Australia...