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Cancers in Dermatology—from Diagnosis to Treatment

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 3211

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-647 Lodz, Poland
Interests: immunodermatology; autoimmune skin disorders; connective tissue diseases; autoimmune blistering diseases; diagnostic tools in dermatology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are thrilled to announce the call for submissions to a Special Issue of Cancers, focusing on the latest advancements in dermato-oncology. This Special Issue aims to highlight cutting-edge research and innovative approaches in the field of skin cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management.

Dermato-oncology represents a crucial convergence between dermatology and oncology, addressing the complexities of skin cancer detection, prevention, and therapy. As skin cancer continues to pose significant global health challenges, this Special Issue seeks to explore novel strategies, emerging technologies, and groundbreaking treatments with the potential to transform the field.

We welcome the submission of original research articles and review papers covering a broad range of topics within dermato-oncology, including (but not limited to) the following:

  • Advances in the molecular understanding of skin cancer;
  • Emerging diagnostic tools and imaging techniques;
  • Personalized treatment approaches and targeted therapies;
  • Immunotherapeutic interventions for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers;
  • Multidisciplinary approaches to skin cancer care;
  • Psychosocial aspects and patient-centered care in dermato-oncology;
  • Cutaneous lymphomas;
  • Cutaneous toxicities of oncologic therapies.

All submissions will undergo a rigorous peer-review process to ensure scientific excellence and relevance to the field. We encourage participation from researchers, clinicians, and experts dedicated to advancing our knowledge and improving patient outcomes in dermato-oncology.

By synthesizing the latest research insights and clinical experiences, this Special Issue aims to deepen our collective understanding of skin cancer management and foster the development of more effective and personalized treatment strategies. Your invaluable contributions are essential to the success of this initiative.

Should you have any questions, require further information, or need support with your submission, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are committed to supporting and facilitating your involvement in this Special Issue.

We sincerely appreciate your attention to this significant topic and look forward to receiving your valuable research contributions.

Warm regards,

Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Żebrowska
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Publisher's Notice

The Special Issue has been removed from Section Cancer Pathophysiology on 15 January 2026. At the time of the move, there were no publications in this Special Issue.

Keywords

  • dermato-oncology 
  • skin cancer immunotherapy 
  • cutaneous lymphoma 
  • molecular diagnostics 
  • multidisciplinary oncology care

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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21 pages, 12356 KB  
Article
Sarcomatoid Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Its Mimics: A Meta-Analysis of Institutional Cases and Published Reports
by Salin Kiratikanon, Yuqing Xiong, Jakob M. T. Moran and Mai P. Hoang
Cancers 2026, 18(9), 1411; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18091411 - 29 Apr 2026
Viewed by 481
Abstract
Background/Objective: Sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma (sSCC) is a rare tumor that resembles atypical fibroxanthoma/pleomorphic dermal sarcoma (AFX/PDS) and spindle cell/dedifferentiated melanoma histologically. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed on 51 sSCCs from 46 patients, 26 AFX/PDS from 24 patients, and 15 spindle cell/dedifferentiated [...] Read more.
Background/Objective: Sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma (sSCC) is a rare tumor that resembles atypical fibroxanthoma/pleomorphic dermal sarcoma (AFX/PDS) and spindle cell/dedifferentiated melanoma histologically. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed on 51 sSCCs from 46 patients, 26 AFX/PDS from 24 patients, and 15 spindle cell/dedifferentiated melanoma from 15 patients. Twenty-nine studies comprising 307 sSCCs, 636 AFX/PDS, and 168 spindle cell/dedifferentiated melanomas were included in the pooled analysis. Results: p63 showed the highest pooled sensitivity for sSCC (0.89), followed by keratin AE1/AE3 (0.87), keratin MNF116 (0.87), keratin 903 (0.85), p40 (0.82), and keratin 5/6 (0.72). Evidence regarding pooled diagnostic performance was limited for several markers. Among the best-supported markers for sSCC, p63 demonstrated a pooled OR of 42.36 (95% CI 13.95–128.61), sensitivity of 0.82, and specificity of 0.94; p40 showed a pooled OR of 50.27 (95% CI 13.91–181.70), sensitivity of 0.90, and specificity of 0.85; and keratin 5/6 had a pooled OR of 108.60 (95% CI 27.10–435.20), sensitivity of 0.94, and specificity of 0.93. For AFX/PDS, CD10 showed a pooled OR of 10.64 (95% CI 2.96–38.19), sensitivity of 0.73, and specificity of 0.80. For spindle cell/dedifferentiated melanoma, S100 showed a pooled OR of 161.23 (95% CI 24.55–1058.69), sensitivity of 0.95, and specificity of 0.94 (95% CI 0.85–0.97), while SOX10 yielded a pooled OR of 121.27 (95% CI 6.33–2323.34). Conclusions: A panel comprising p63 or p40, keratin 5/6, CD10, CD163 or CD68, and SOX10 or S100 may aid in distinguishing sSCC from AFX/PDS and spindle cell/dedifferentiated melanoma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancers in Dermatology—from Diagnosis to Treatment)
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13 pages, 1533 KB  
Article
A Real-World Experience of Cemiplimab in Patients with Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
by Matteo Ravara, Tommaso Sani, Vincenzo D’Alonzo, Monica Valente, Elisa Cinotti, Clelia Miracco, Maura Colucci, Valentina Croce, Eleonora Carbonari, Ramiz Rana, Olindo Massarelli, Giovanni Rubino, Diana Giannarelli, Roberto Cuomo, Luca Grimaldi, Pietro Rubegni, Michele Maio and Anna Maria Di Giacomo
Cancers 2026, 18(3), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18030454 - 30 Jan 2026
Viewed by 883
Abstract
Background: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) represents the second most common form of non-melanoma skin malignancy, and, when not amenable to curative surgery or radiotherapy, it is a life-threatening disease. The anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody cemiplimab has transformed the outcome of advanced or metastatic [...] Read more.
Background: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) represents the second most common form of non-melanoma skin malignancy, and, when not amenable to curative surgery or radiotherapy, it is a life-threatening disease. The anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody cemiplimab has transformed the outcome of advanced or metastatic cSCC, with response rates approaching 50% and sustained benefit beyond three years in clinical trials. Cemiplimab is now the first-line standard of care treatment for advanced disease. Methods: This retrospective observational study included consecutive adult patients with locally advanced (lac) or metastatic (m) cSCC who received cemiplimab (350 mg every three weeks) at the Center for Immuno-Oncology, University Hospital of Siena, Italy, either through an Expanded Access Program or routine clinical practice. Clinical outcome and treatment related adverse events (TRAEs) are reported. Results: Between December 2019 and December 2023, 27 patients (24 male; median age 82 years [range 41–90]) diagnosed with lacSCC (n = 20 [74.0%]) or mcSCC (n = 7 [25.9%]) were treated with cemiplimab as first line therapy and were followed until June 2024. Head and neck were the primary tumor location for 88.8% of patients, followed by trunk (7.4%) and lower extremities (3.7%). All patients had comorbidities, including six patients (22.2%) with hematologic malignancies. With a median follow-up of 31 months (data cut-off June 2024), the ORR was 66.6% (complete response 22.2%) and the disease control rate (DCR) 77.7%. Median progression-free survival (mPFS) and overall survival (mOS) were not reached, while 2-year PFS and OS rates were 65.2% and 71%, respectively. Treatment was well-tolerated, with three (11.1%) patients experiencing grade ≥3 TRAEs, and three patients discontinuing treatment due to TRAEs. Conclusions: Our real-world experience confirms the high rate of durable objective responses, good tolerability and long treatment duration of cemiplimab in elderly and frail cSCC patients as well. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancers in Dermatology—from Diagnosis to Treatment)
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16 pages, 433 KB  
Systematic Review
Adult-Onset Hypopigmented Mycosis Fungoides: A Systematic Review of Clinicopathologic, Immunophenotypic, and Therapeutic Characteristics
by Agnieszka Kimak-Pielas, Ewa Robak, Tadeusz Robak and Agnieszka Żebrowska
Cancers 2026, 18(2), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18020265 - 15 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1246
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Hypopigmented mycosis fungoides (hMF) is a rare variant of mycosis fungoides (MF) often seen in younger patients and individuals with darker skin phototypes. The lesions develop as hypopigmented patches or plaques, and they are usually asymptomatic and respond well to topical [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Hypopigmented mycosis fungoides (hMF) is a rare variant of mycosis fungoides (MF) often seen in younger patients and individuals with darker skin phototypes. The lesions develop as hypopigmented patches or plaques, and they are usually asymptomatic and respond well to topical treatment or phototherapy. Methods: We provide a systematic review on hMF with onset at or beyond 30 years of age, based on SCOPUS, PubMed, and Embase databases. A total of 13 original articles, totaling 34 patients, were included in this review. Evidence was limited to case reports and small series; PROSPERO registration is CRD420251181894. Results: The majority of cases did not progress beyond stage IB and commonly used treatment methods, including topical corticosteroids and phototherapy. In three patients, a progression of the disease occurred, and in two of them it was fetal. Among patients receiving phototherapy, PUVA therapy achieved complete remission more often than UVB (13 out of 17 cases vs. 8 out of 16 cases). Although recurrences occurred with both treatments, they were less frequent, and relapses took longer to develop in the PUVA group. Conclusions: In this cohort, PUVA appeared to be associated with higher complete response rates and longer remission duration than UVB. However, this advantage of PUVA is derived from low-level evidence and should be confirmed in prospective comparative studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cancers in Dermatology—from Diagnosis to Treatment)
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