Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.0
4.5
Journals
Cancers
Special Issues
Skin Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention
share announcement

Skin Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 8019

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Feras M. Ghazawi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Dermatology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M2, Canada
Interests: skin cancer; melanoma; non-melanoma skin cancer; cutaneous lymphomas
Dr. Ivan V. Litvinov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Division of Dermatology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
2. President-Elect, Skin Research Group of Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada
Interests: cutaneous lymphoma; melanoma; basal cell carcinoma; carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Robert Gniadecki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Interests: cutaneous lymphoma; psoriasis; genomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Cancers will focus on the critical subject of skin-related "Skin Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention." Skin cancer continues to be a significant public health concern, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. As the incidence of skin cancer continues to rise, understanding the risk factors and implementing effective prevention strategies becomes of paramount importance.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive platform for researchers, clinicians, and public health experts to share their latest findings, innovative approaches, and evidence-based interventions in the field of skin cancer. We invite authors to contribute original research papers, reviews, and perspectives that delve into various aspects of skin cancer. Potential topics include but are not limited to:

  • Identification and characterization of risk factors associated with different types of skin cancer;
  • Advances in molecular and genetic understanding of skin cancer development, and latest on screening tools;
  • Epidemiological studies exploring the prevalence and incidence of skin cancer across different populations;
  • Innovative prevention strategies, including public education campaigns, behavioral interventions, and screening programs;
  • Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of existing preventive measures, such as sunscreen use, protective clothing, and UV radiation avoidance;
  • Emerging technologies and approaches for early detection and diagnosis of skin cancer.

By addressing these topics, we aim to enhance our knowledge of skin cancer risk factors, identify effective preventive measures, and ultimately reduce the burden of this disease on individuals and healthcare systems. We welcome contributions from diverse disciplines, including dermatology, oncology, public health, genetics, epidemiology, and behavioral sciences.

Join us in this collective effort to combat skin cancer and contribute to the growing body of knowledge that guides effective prevention strategies and improves patient outcomes. Together, we can make a tangible impact in reducing the global burden of skin cancer.

Dr. Feras M. Ghazawi
Dr. Ivan V. Litvinov
Prof. Dr. Robert Gniadecki
Guest Editors

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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.

Keywords

  • skin cancer
  • dermatology
  • risk factors
  • prevention
  • screening
  • early detection
  • epidemiology

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 275 KiB  
Article
Changes in Skin Cancer-Related Behaviors, Distress, and Beliefs in Response to Receipt of Low- to Moderate-Penetrance Genetic Test Results for Skin Cancer Risk
by Monica Khadka, John Charles A. Lacson, Steven K. Sutton, Youngchul Kim, Susan T. Vadaparampil, Brenda Soto-Torres, Jennifer L. Hay and Peter A. Kanetsky
Cancers 2024, 16(23), 4027; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16234027 - 30 Nov 2024
Viewed by 691
Abstract
Background. Little is known about the impact of low- to moderate-penetrance genetic testing for skin cancer, which is a promising approach to skin cancer prevention. Methods. To address this deficit, we conducted an analysis comparing changes in skin cancer-related behaviors, distress, and beliefs [...] Read more.
Background. Little is known about the impact of low- to moderate-penetrance genetic testing for skin cancer, which is a promising approach to skin cancer prevention. Methods. To address this deficit, we conducted an analysis comparing changes in skin cancer-related behaviors, distress, and beliefs measured at a baseline and twice after the receipt of skin cancer precision prevention materials containing MC1R risk feedback (higher or average risk) among 568 non-Hispanic White (NHW) and 463 Hispanic participants. Results. Regression analyses identified decreased average weekend hours in the sun (β = −0.25; 95% CI, −0.46–[−0.04]) and increased average skin cancer worry (β = 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01–0.18) among higher-risk NHW participants at the first but not second follow-up. On average, higher-risk NHW and Hispanic participants reported a persistent increased risk of developing skin cancer compared with similar others (β = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.33, 0.65; β = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.17, 0.67, respectively). Conclusions.MC1R genetic testing resulted in durable elevated skin cancer risk perceptions and shorter-term behavior changes among higher-risk individuals. Although higher-risk participants reported slight heightened worry at the first follow-up, the overall levels of skin cancer-related distress were low. The lack of sustained behavioral changes highlights the need for intervention reinforcement in precision prevention approaches to reduce cancer risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Skin Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention)
16 pages, 3309 KiB  
Article
A Comprehensive Analysis of Skin Cancer Concerns and Protective Practices in Manitoba, Canada, Highlights Lack of Skin Cancer Awareness and Predominance of High-Risk Sun Exposure Behaviors
by François Lagacé, Santina Conte, Lorena A. Mija, Amina Moustaqim-Barrette, Farhan Mahmood, Jonathan LeBeau, Alyson McKenna, Mahan Maazi, Johnny Hanna, Alexandra Sarah Victoria Kelly, Elham Rahme, Travis J. Hrubeniuk, Sandra Peláez and Ivan V. Litvinov
Cancers 2024, 16(17), 3093; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16173093 - 5 Sep 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1400
Abstract
The rapidly increasing skin cancer rates in Canada are alarming, with current data estimating that 1/3 of Canadians will be affected in their lifetime. Thus, deeper understanding of high-risk sun exposure behaviors is needed to help counter this trend. Only limited action has [...] Read more.
The rapidly increasing skin cancer rates in Canada are alarming, with current data estimating that 1/3 of Canadians will be affected in their lifetime. Thus, deeper understanding of high-risk sun exposure behaviors is needed to help counter this trend. Only limited action has been taken by federal/provincial governments to reduce skin cancer incidence. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted in Manitoba, with frequency counts, means, and percentages used to encapsulate responses. Age- and gender-adjusted odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression analyses. Our study identified worrying inadequacies in sun protective behaviors and attitudes, with the threat of such high-risk behaviors amplified by a lack of skin cancer awareness. Alarming elements were noted in participants’ sun exposure history (>65% reported a history of sunburns, >50% previously used a tanning bed, and >75% recently tanned for pleasure), beliefs and attitudes (>50% believe that they look better/healthier with a tan, and >40% believe that having a base tan is protective against further sun damage), and sun protection efforts (sun protective clothing was used <60% of the time, sunscreen was used by <50%, and there was a lack of knowledge about sunscreen characteristics in ~30% of respondents), in addition to significant differences being established between demographic subgroups (based on gender, age, skin phototype, income, and education attained). This study provides worrisome insight onto the grim landscape of sun protective behaviors and attitudes in Manitoba, which will inevitably translate into higher skin cancer rates and should serve as a call to action to promote targeted public health messaging in this jurisdiction and beyond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Skin Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3814 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Melanoma Imaging Biomarker Cues on Detection Sensitivity and Specificity in Melanoma versus Clinically Atypical Nevi
by Rosario Agüero, Kendall L. Buchanan, Cristián Navarrete-Dechent, Ashfaq A. Marghoob, Jennifer A. Stein, Michael S. Landy, Sancy A. Leachman, Kenneth G. Linden, Sandra Garcet, James G. Krueger and Daniel S. Gareau
Cancers 2024, 16(17), 3077; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16173077 - 4 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1150
Abstract
Incorporation of dermoscopy and artificial intelligence (AI) is improving healthcare professionals’ ability to diagnose melanoma earlier, but these algorithms often suffer from a “black box” issue, where decision-making processes are not transparent, limiting their utility for training healthcare providers. To address this, an [...] Read more.
Incorporation of dermoscopy and artificial intelligence (AI) is improving healthcare professionals’ ability to diagnose melanoma earlier, but these algorithms often suffer from a “black box” issue, where decision-making processes are not transparent, limiting their utility for training healthcare providers. To address this, an automated approach for generating melanoma imaging biomarker cues (IBCs), which mimics the screening cues used by expert dermoscopists, was developed. This study created a one-minute learning environment where dermatologists adopted a sensory cue integration algorithm to combine a single IBC with a risk score built on many IBCs, then immediately tested their performance in differentiating melanoma from benign nevi. Ten participants evaluated 78 dermoscopic images, comprised of 39 melanomas and 39 nevi, first without IBCs and then with IBCs. Participants classified each image as melanoma or nevus in both experimental conditions, enabling direct comparative analysis through paired data. With IBCs, average sensitivity improved significantly from 73.69% to 81.57% (p = 0.0051), and the average specificity improved from 60.50% to 67.25% (p = 0.059) for the diagnosis of melanoma. The index of discriminability (d′) increased significantly by 0.47 (p = 0.002). Therefore, the incorporation of IBCs can significantly improve physicians’ sensitivity in melanoma diagnosis. While more research is needed to validate this approach across other healthcare providers, its use may positively impact melanoma screening practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Skin Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 669 KiB  
Article
Incidence and Relative Survival of Patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, 2008–2021
by Andreas Stang, Lennart Möller, Ina Wellmann, Kevin Claaßen, Hiltraud Kajüter, Selma Ugurel and Jürgen C. Becker
Cancers 2024, 16(11), 2158; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16112158 - 6 Jun 2024
Viewed by 933
Abstract
Background: To date, only a few population-representative studies have been carried out on the rare Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). We provide incidence and survival estimates of MCC, including the conditional relative survival. Methods: We analyzed data from the cancer registry of North Rhine-Westphalia, [...] Read more.
Background: To date, only a few population-representative studies have been carried out on the rare Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). We provide incidence and survival estimates of MCC, including the conditional relative survival. Methods: We analyzed data from the cancer registry of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, 2008–2021, covering a population of 18 million. We included all newly diagnosed MCCs and calculated age-standardized (old European Standard population) incidence rates and unconditional and conditional relative survival. Results: Our analysis included 2164 MCC patients. The age-standardized incidence of MCC was 5.2 (men) and 3.8 (women) per million person-years. The 5-year relative survival was 58.8% (men) and 70.7% (women). Survival was lower among men than women in all age–sex groups and was highest for MCC of the upper extremity in both men (68.2%) and women (79.3%). The sex difference in survival is particularly due to the better survival of women with MCC of the head and neck. In terms of survival, the first two years are particularly critical. Conclusions: Our data validate the worse survival among men and highlights a more favorable prognosis for MCCs located on the limbs. The first two years after diagnosis of MCC are the years with the highest excess mortality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Skin Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 4011 KiB  
Article
Conditional Knockout of N-WASP Enhanced the Formation of Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma Induced by KRasG12D
by Pazhanichamy Kalailingam, Apoorva Verma, Ying Hui Lee and Thirumaran Thanabalu
Cancers 2023, 15(18), 4455; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15184455 - 7 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1496
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common forms of skin cancer in humans, and Neural Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein (N-WASP) plays a crucial role in epidermal homeostasis. To elucidate the role of N-WASP in skin cancer, we generated mice which expressed [...] Read more.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common forms of skin cancer in humans, and Neural Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein (N-WASP) plays a crucial role in epidermal homeostasis. To elucidate the role of N-WASP in skin cancer, we generated mice which expressed constitutively active KRas (KRasG12D) in keratinocytes with either homozygous (N-WASPKOG12D) or heterozygous (N-WASPHetG12D) N-WASP knockout upon Tamoxifen (TAM) injection. Both the N-WASPKOG12D and N-WASPHetG12D mice had similar body weights and no congenital malformations prior to the injection of TAM. Within 2 weeks of the injections, the N-WASPKOG12D mice exhibited significant reductions in weight coupled with visible tumors at numerous sites, unlike the N-WASPHetG12D mice, which had no visible tumors. We found that both sets of mice had oily, sticky skin and wet eyes 3 weeks after their exposure to TAM, indicating the overproduction of sebum/meibum. At 37 days post TAM injection, several notable observations were made. Tumors collected from the N-WASPKOG12D mice had small- to large-sized keratin pearls that were not observed in the N-WASPHetG12D mice. A Western blot and immunostaining analysis both highlighted significantly higher levels of expression of SCC markers, such as the cytokeratins 8, 17, 18, and 19 and TP63, in the tumors of the N-WASPKOG12D mice compared to those of the latter group. Furthermore, we noted increases in the expression levels of EGFR, P-ERK, GLUT1, P-mTOR, and P-4EBP in the N-WASPKOG12D mice, suggesting that the deletion of N-WASP in the keratinocytes enhanced KRas signaling and glucose uptake, resulting in aggressive tumor formation. Interestingly, a thickening of the epidermal layer within the esophagus and tongue was only observed in the N-WASPKOG12D mice. Immunostaining for PCNA emphasized a significantly higher number of PCNA-positive cells in the skin of the N-WASPKOG12D mice compared to their counterparts, implying that epidermal thickening and enhanced tumorigenesis are due to an increased proliferation of keratinocytes. Through our results, we have established that N-WASP plays a tumor-suppressive role in skin cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Skin Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 300 KiB  
Article
Global Tanning Bed Advertising: A Comparison of Legal Regulations on Three Continents
by Sonja Mathes, Karla S. Lindwedel, Lill Tove Nilsen, Isabelle Kaiser, Annette B. Pfahlberg and Olaf Gefeller
Cancers 2023, 15(17), 4362; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15174362 - 1 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1338
Abstract
Artificial ultraviolet radiation from tanning beds has been classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2009. Several countries have subsequently introduced comprehensive legislation regulating commercial indoor tanning. Specific aspects of these regulations address tanning bed advertising and information [...] Read more.
Artificial ultraviolet radiation from tanning beds has been classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2009. Several countries have subsequently introduced comprehensive legislation regulating commercial indoor tanning. Specific aspects of these regulations address tanning bed advertising and information requirements for tanning bed customers, which have been previously neglected in international comparisons of indoor tanning regulations. We performed a systematic search regarding legislation on these aspects in 131 legislative units across three continents (North America, Australia/New Zealand, Europe). The legal restrictions found varied widely in type and content. In 49 legislative units we identified total (n = 8) or partial legal bans (n = 41) on advertising for indoor tanning, while 64 legislative units enacted 5regulations that necessitate the dissemination of different types of specific health information to tanning bed customers. Nearly 40% of the legislative units of the study region lacked any legislation on these issues altogether. The heterogenous results emphasize the need for an international dialogue between health authorities and governments to harmonize the regulatory framework for tanning bed advertising and information requirements to a level better protecting the public from skin cancer. Our comprehensive international comparison can serve as a starting point for such a harmonization process that may ultimately protect the public worldwide from misleading tanning bed advertising. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Skin Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop