Non-melanoma skin cancers

This review examines the nature, incidence and molecular pathogenesis associated with non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). These comprise the basal cell carcinomas (BCCs), the most frequent though rarely metastasizing skin tumours, the more aggressive squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), which are a problem especially in immunosuppressed organ transplant recipients. UV radiation is a key risk factor for both BSC and SCC. Whereas BCCs are associated with a limited number of sunburns (may be a one or more severe sunburns), SCCs usually occur after with recurrent UV exposure – with sun damage induced actinic keratoses as a well-established precursor. Each carcinoma may be associated with several chromosomal mutations and prevention is preferred to treatment, of which surgery is the first choice.

Section editor:Michael Roberts – School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia