title: Photocarcinogenesis and Skin Cancer Prevention Strategies.
abstract: In this review the basic principles of UV-induced carcinogenesis are summarized and the state of the art diagnosis and therapeutic strategies are discussed. The prevalent keratinocyte-derived neoplasms of the skin are basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Cutaneous melanoma is less frequent but associated with high mortality. Common risk factors for all three tumor entities include sun exposure and DNA-repair deficiencies. Photocarcinogenesis follows a multistep model of cancer development in which ultraviolet-induced DNA damage leads to mutations resulting in activation of oncogenes or silencing of tumor-suppressor genes. This ends in a cellular mutator phenotype even more prone to mutation acquisition. DNA repair, especially the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway, counteracts mutation formation and skin cancer development. This is vividly demonstrated by the NER-defective disorder xeroderma pigmentosum. Primary skin cancer preventative strategies, therefore, include reduction of DNA photodamage by protection from the sun. Secondary preventative strategies include skin cancer screening. This implies standard examination techniques with the naked eye, an epiluminescence microscope, or digital epiluminescence microscopy. More advanced techniques include confocal laser scan microscopy.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Seebode
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Janin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany steffen.emmert@med.uni-rostock.de.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Emmert
mesh_terms: D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000528:radiation effects; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
keywords: DNA repair; Photocarcinogenesis; UV light; prevention strategies; review; skin tumors