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skin cancer
Etiology: Risk factors:
1) sun exposure
a) cumulative
b) history of multiple blistering sunburn
c) history of sunburns in childhood
d) sun exposure in both childhood & adult life increases risk for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin & basal cell carcinoma [9]
e) only early sun exposure increases cutaneous melanoma risk [9]
2) fair skin that burns easily, red or blonde hair, freckles
a) blue eyes
b) albinism
3) history of skin cancer or premalignant lesions
a) history of melanoma
b) history of non-melanoma skin cancer
c) family history of skin cancer or melanoma
d) actinic keratosis
4) multiple atypical nevi
a) congenital nevi
b) dysplastic nevi
c) basal cell nevus syndrome
5) immunosuppression
6) xeroderma pigmentosum
7) history of phototherapy
8) exposure to hydrocarbons, arsenic, ionizing radiation
9) male sex
10) older age
11) alcohol consumption
- especially white wine & hard liquor [6]
12) solid organ transpantation
- increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer [2]
Epidemiology:
- basal cell carcinoma (BCC) most common skin cancer in whites
- squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (cutaneous SCC) may be most common in blacks
Genetics: see skin neoplasm & more specific types
Management:
Treatment: see specific skin cancer
- treatment modalities used in the elderly seem to be independent of life-expectancy, functional status or comorbidities [11]
Screening: see screening for skin cancer
- insufficient evidence to recommend screening for skin cancer in asymptomatic adults without history of premalignant or malignant skin lesions (USPSTF)
Prevention
1) sunscreen, SPF 30 or greater [2]
- apply 30 minutes prior to sun exposure & every 2 hours
2) protective clothing
3) avoidance of midday sun
4) overzealous prevention strategies may result in vitamin D deficiency
5) consider vitamin D supplementation [2]
7) nicotinamide 500 mg PO BID may reduce risk of non-melanoma skin cancer (RR=0.73) [10]
8) celecoxib may reduce incidence of both cutaneous SCC & basal cell carcinoma (BCC) [4]
9) USPSTF recommends clinicians counsel fair-skinned patients aged 6 months-24 years & their caregivers about reducing exposure to ultraviolet radiation [13]
10) USPSTF recommends clinicians selectively counsel older fair-skinned patients based on their existing risk factors since the net benefit is likely small [13]
Comparative biology:
- strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis producing 6-N-hydroxyaminopurine on the skin of mice protected them from UV radiation-induced skin cancer [14]
- same strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis common on human skin [14]
Interactions
disease interactions
Related
screening for skin cancer
Specific
basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN)
cutaneous lymphoma
cutaneous melanoma
cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL)
external ear cancer
eyelid cancer
keratinocyte carcinoma
lip cancer
Merkel cell carcinoma (neuroendocrine cancer of skin, trabecular cancer)
nail bed cancer
perianal skin cancer
secondary skin cancer
skin cancer, face
skin cancer, genitalia
skin cancer, lower extremity
skin cancer, scalp/neck
skin cancer, trunk
skin cancer, upper extremity
squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCCS)
General
malignant neoplasm of bone, connective tissue, skin, & breast
skin neoplasm
References
- Saunders Manual of Medical Practice, Rakel (ed),
WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1996, pg 30-31
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, 15, 16.
17, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998, 2009,
2012, 2015
- Marrett L et al
Screening for Skin Cancer: A Clinical Practice Guideline
A Quality Initiative of the Program in Evidence-based Care
(PEBC), Cancer Care Ontario (CCO)
http://www.cancercare.on.ca/pdf/pebc15-1f.pdf
- Elmets CA et al
Chemoprevention of nonmelanoma skin cancer with celecoxib:
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
J Natl Cancer Inst. 2010 Dec 15;102(24):1835-44.
PMID: 21115882
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djq442
- Meyskens FL Jr and McLaren CE.
Chemoprevention, risk reduction, therapeutic prevention, or
preventive therapy?
J Natl Cancer Inst. 2010 Dec 15;102(24):1815-7.
PMID: 21115881
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djq466
- Moyer VA on behalf of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Behavioral counseling to prevent skin cancer:
U.S. preventive services task force recommendation statement.
Ann Intern Med 2012 May 8
PMID: 22565035
- Kubo JT et al.
Alcohol consumption and risk of melanoma and non-melanoma
skin cancer in the Women's Health Initiative.
Cancer Causes Control 2013 Oct 31
PMID: 24173533
- Ridky TW.
Nonmelanoma skin cancer.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 2007 Sep;57(3):484-501. Epub 2007 May 21.
PMID: 17512631
- Gloster HM Jr, Neal K.
Skin cancer in skin of color.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006 Nov;55(5):741-60; quiz 761-4.
PMID: 17052479
- Wu S et al.
Long-term ultraviolet flux, other potential risk factors, and
skin cancer risk: A cohort study.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014 Jun; 23:1080
PMID: 24876226
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/23/6/1080
- Martin AJ et al
Oral nicotinamide to reduce actinic cancer: A phase 3
double-blind randomized controlled trial.
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
2015 Annual Meeting
http://abstracts.asco.org/156/AbstView_156_149209.html
- Linos E et al.
Skin cancer in U.S. elderly adults: Does life expectancy
play a role in treatment decisions?
J Am Geriatr Soc 2016 Aug; 64:1610
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.14202/abstract
- Preston DS, Stern RS
Nonmelanoma Cancers of the Skin.
N Engl J Med 1992; 327:1649-1662. December 3, 1992
PMID: 1435901
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199212033272307
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)
Draft Recommendation Statement. Oct 2017
Skin Cancer Prevention: Behavioral Counseling
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/draft-recommendation-statement/skin-cancer-counseling2
- Draft Evidence Review. Oct 2017
Draft Evidence Review for Skin Cancer Prevention: Behavioral
Counseling.
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/draft-evidence-review/skin-cancer-counseling2
- Galindo Y
Beneficial Skin Bacteria Protect Against Skin Cancer.
UC San Diego News Center. Feb 28, 2018
citing study Nakatsuji T, Chen TC, Butcher AM et al
published in Science Advances on February 28
http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/beneficial_skin_bacteria_protect_against_skin_cancer
- US Preventive Services Task Force
Behavioral Counseling to Prevent Skin Cancer. US Preventive
Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.
JAMA. 2018;319(11):1134-1142
PMID: 29558558
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2675556
- Henrikson NB, Morrison CC, Blasi PR et al
Behavioral Counseling for Skin Cancer Prevention.
Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive
Services Task Force.
JAMA. 2018;319(11):1143-1157
PMID: 29558557
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2675555
- Robinson JK, Jablonski NG
Sun Protection and Skin Self-examination and the US Preventive
Services Task Force Recommendation on Behavioral Counseling
for Skin Cancer Prevention.
JAMA. 2018;319(11):1101-1102
PMID: 29558538
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2675529
- Linos E, Pagoto S.
USPSTF Recommendations for Behavioral Counseling for Skin Cancer
Prevention. Throwing Shade on UV Radiation.
JAMA Intern Med. Published online March 20, 2018
PMID: 29558531
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2675355
- Scott TD, Stokowski LA
Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers You Need to Know.
Medscape. Jam 28, 2021
https://reference.medscape.com/slideshow/nonmelanoma-skin-cancers-30455
- Supapannachart KJ, Chen SC, Wang Y et al
Skin Cancer Risk Factors and Screening Among Asian American Individuals.
JAMA Dermatol. Published online January 26, 2022
PMID: 35080583
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/2788388
- National Cancer Institute
Skin Cancer (Including Melanoma) - Health Professional Version
https://www.cancer.gov/types/skin/hp