Changing pathology with changing drugs: skin cancer

Pathobiology. 2011;78(2):61-75. doi: 10.1159/000314576. Epub 2011 Jun 14.

Abstract

Today skin cancer is mainly treated by surgical interventions. New findings concerning molecular biology and the signaling pathways in epithelial skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma, and mesenchymal skin cancers such as angiosarcoma and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) have identified new molecular targets for a systemic or local treatment approach. For DFSP there is an opportunity already today to reduce the intensity of surgical procedures by pretreatment with targeted therapy. This article highlights important aspects in several skin cancer types.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Basal Cell / surgery
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Dermatofibrosarcoma / diagnosis
  • Dermatofibrosarcoma / drug therapy*
  • Dermatofibrosarcoma / surgery
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / diagnosis
  • Melanoma / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma / surgery
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery
  • Translational Research, Biomedical

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors