Skin Cancer: Basic Science, Clinical Research And Treatment (recent Results In Cancer Research)

In the past two decades, considerable interest in skin cancer has developed in the public and scientific communities. There may have been several reasons for this: - The rise in the global incidence of cutaneous cancers - New molecular biology techniques resulting in a better understanding of pathogenesis and improved diagnostic procedures - The advent of new pathological entities, e. g. , the endemic form of Kaposi's sarcoma - A constantly increasing range of therapeutic modalities, providing even more efficacious treatment and manage­ ment of skin cancers As N. E. Fusenig describes in the first chapter of this volume, basic research is only beginning to unravel the complex mechanism involved in cellular dedifferentiation and tumor progression. Progress is dearly needed, especially in dermato­ oncology, where the rise in the incidence of epithelial tumors has inflated the overall skin cancer incidence. The incidence of tumors of the skin exceeds that of all other neoplasias in humans, with recreational sun exposure being a suspected primary cause. Several studies on the effects of UV radiation have been included at the beginning of this volume. Even the role of long wavelength UV (UVA) has become a focus of research activities. The main concern is that the low carcinogenicity of UVA, in comparison to UVB, may be outweighed and exceeded in its effects by increased UV A exposure, e. g. Front Matter....Pages I-XVI Differentiation and Tumor Progression....Pages 1-19 Action Spectrum for Photocarcinogenesis....Pages 21-30 Processing of Directly and Indirectly Ultraviolet-Induced DNA Damage in Human Cells....Pages 31-42 Photodynamic Action of Ultraviolet A: Induction of Cellular Hydroperoxides....Pages 43-55 Analysis of N-ras Mutations in Human Cutaneous Melanoma: Tumor Heterogeneity Detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction/Single-Stranded Conformation Polymorphism Analysis....Pages 57-67 Skin Cancer and Warts in Immunosuppressed Renal Transplant Recipients....Pages 69-86 Risk of Developing Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma in Atypical-Mole Syndrome: New York University Experience and Literature Review....Pages 87-104 Properties of Metastasizing and Nonmetastasizing Human Melanoma Cells....Pages 105-122 Protein Patterns of Benign and Malignant Human Melanocytes Show Consistent Changes in Gene Expression....Pages 123-135 Mutation and Expression of TP53 in Malignant Melanomas....Pages 137-154 Production of Cytokines by Human Melanoma Cells and Melanocytes....Pages 155-168 Growth Control of Melanoma Cells and Melanocytes by Cytokines....Pages 169-182 Effects of Various Synthetic Retinoids on Proliferation and Immunophenotype of Human Melanoma Cells In Vitro....Pages 183-193 Prognostic Significance of DNA Cytometry in Comparison with Histologic Measurements in Malignant Melanomas....Pages 195-204 Lymphocyte-Melanoma Interaction: Role of Surface Molecules....Pages 205-214 Melanoma Control in the United States: Current Status....Pages 215-224 New Perspectives in Experimental and Clinical Research for Cutaneous T Cell Lymphomas....Pages 225-237 Use of Polymerase Chain Reaction in the Detection of Clones in Lymphoproliferative Diseases of the Skin....Pages 239-247 bcl-1, bcl-2, p53, c-myc, and lyt-10 Analysis in Cutaneous Lymphomas....Pages 249-261 Trends in Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer in Japan....Pages 263-273 Kaposi’s Sarcoma: A Reevaluation....Pages 275-296 Human Leukocyte Antigens and Multiple Basal Cell Carcinomas....Pages 297-302 Immunohistochemistry of Eccrine Poroma and Porocarcinoma — More Than Acrosyringeal Tumors?....Pages 303-316 Excision of Primary Melanoma Should Allow Primary Closure of the Wound....Pages 317-321 Role of Elective Lymph Node Dissection in Stage I Malignant Melanoma: Evaluation by Matched Pair Analysis....Pages 323-336 Clinical Activity of a Polyvalent Melanoma Antigen Vaccine....Pages 337-348 Perspectives of Cytokine Treatment in Malignant Skin Tumors....Pages 349-369 Biochemical Modulation of Cytotoxic Drugs by Cytokines: Molecular Mechanisms in Experimental Oncology....Pages 371-382 Interleukin-2-Based Immunotherapy and Chemoimmunotherapy in Metastatic Melanoma....Pages 383-390 Combination Therapy of Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma with Interferon Alpha-2a and Photochemotherapy....Pages 391-401 Systemic Treatment for Cutaneous Lymphomas....Pages 403-408 Extracorporeal Photopheresis — A New Approach for the Treatment of Cutaneous T Cell Lymphomas....Pages 409-415 Laser Therapy of Skin Tumors....Pages 417-421 Management of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Malignancies....Pages 423-432 Back Matter....Pages 433-440 This volume gives a comprehensive account of current skin cancer research. The fields of general tumour biology, photocarcinogenesis, melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer are covered by selected authors. The book includes the following topics: insight into the differentiation of malignant cells; the role of UV-light, from the molecular to the genetic level; clues to the origin of Kaposi's sarcoma; new laboratory techniques allowing improved typing, prognostic accuracy and more rational treatment of diverse skin malignancies; and refined and new therapeutic regimens for malignant melanoma, including immunochemotherapy, and autologous tumor vaccination. New treatments for Kaposi's sarcoma are introduced as well as the state of the art and reevaluation of chemotherapy and surgery for skin cancers