title: Chemically induced skin carcinogenesis: Updates in experimental models (Review).
abstract: Skin cancer is one of the most common malignancies affecting humans worldwide, and its incidence is rapidly increasing. The study of skin carcinogenesis is of major interest for both scientific research and clinical practice and the use of in vivo systems may facilitate the investigation of early alterations in the skin and of the mechanisms involved, and may also lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for skin cancer. This review outlines several aspects regarding the skin toxicity testing domain in mouse models of chemically induced skin carcinogenesis. There are important strain differences in view of the histological type, development and clinical evolution of the skin tumor, differences reported decades ago and confirmed by our hands‑on experience. Using mouse models in preclinical testing is important due to the fact that, at the molecular level, common mechanisms with human cutaneous tumorigenesis are depicted. These animal models resemble human skin cancer development, in that genetic changes caused by carcinogens and pro‑inflammatory cytokines, and simultaneous inflammation sustained by pro‑inflammatory cytokines and chemokines favor tumor progression. Drugs and environmental conditions can be tested using these animal models. keeping in mind the differences between human and rodent skin physiology.
authors.affiliation: 'Victor Babes' National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest 050096, Romania.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neagu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest 050474, Romania.
authors.forename: Constantin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caruntu
authors.affiliation: 'Victor Babes' National Institute of Pathology, Bucharest 050096, Romania.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Constantin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, 'Prof. N. Paulescu' National Institute of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, Bucharest 79811, Romania.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, 'Colentina' Clinical Hospital, Bucharest 72202, Romania.
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zurac
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion 71409, Greece.
authors.forename: Demetrios A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Spandidos
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion 71003, Greece.
authors.forename: Aristidis M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tsatsakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology