Skin Cancer: Molecular Drivers, Biomarkers, Non-Invasive Diagnostics and Therapeutic Strategies

Dear Colleagues,

Skin cancer represents the most common malignancy worldwide and encompasses a broad spectrum of entities, including melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Despite recent advances in prevention and treatment, incidence continues to rise, highlighting the urgent need to better understand molecular mechanisms, identify reliable biomarkers, and implement precision strategies for early detection and therapy monitoring.

This Special Issue aims to provide an integrative overview of recent advances in molecular oncology, biomarker discovery, and therapeutic innovation in skin cancer. Topics include oncogenic pathways, tumor–microenvironment interactions, genomic and epigenomic regulation (including microRNAs), and translational therapeutic strategies such as targeted agents and immunotherapies. Emphasis will also be placed on resistance mechanisms, preclinical and clinical models, and the development of non-invasive diagnostic approaches—such as dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT), and total-body photography—applied to disease monitoring.

By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between molecular researchers and clinical dermatologists, this Special Issue seeks to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into improved prognostic and therapeutic outcomes for patients with skin cancer.

Scope (indicative):

• Oncogenic pathways and tumor microenvironment across melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers;
• Genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics;
• Biomarkers for prognosis and treatment response;
• Translational therapeutics: targeted agents, immunotherapies, combinations, and resistance mechanisms;
• Preclinical models and clinically oriented translational studies;
• Non-invasive diagnostic techniques (dermoscopy, RCM, LC-OCT, total body photography) for diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

Dr. Federico Venturi
Dr. Emi Dika
Dr. Giulia Veronesi
Guest Editors

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