The incidences of cutaneous malignant melanoma and keratinocyte skin carcinomas have steadily been increasing over the last decades because of increased exposure of the skin to solar ultraviolet radiation with consequent DNA damage, immunosuppression and photocarcinogenesis. The role of immunity in these events is emphasized by the highly increased risk of actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma in organ-transplant recipients.
Premalignant and malignant skin lesions, particularly in aging populations, has caused a growing burden to health care systems. Traditional treatments of actinic keratosis or more progressed lesions are based on a variety of therapies which can often cause destructive adverse effects. These include cryotherapy, curettage, laser or surgery, or medicinal therapies, including the photodynamic therapy, 5-fluorouracil or tirbanibulin.
In addition to this, treatments which enhance innate or acquired immunity can be effective in preventing carcinogenesis or treating developed (pre)malignant lesions in the skin. However, immune-based therapies are still very few and are confined to the TLR7-agonist, imiquimod. This being said, a growing number of patients can present with multiple and even subclinical lesions in large cutaneous fields with actinic damage and cancerization, causing a significant problem for targeting the treatment.
The purpose of this article collection is therefore to describe improved targeted treatments for actinic keratosis and more progressed lesions, as well as advances in immunotherapy-based treatments. We are accepting research articles, short communications, and reviews with particular emphasis on:
- Directions to novel targeted therapies for actinic keratosis or more progressed lesions that modify innate or acquired immunity or tumor microenvironment including, e.g., those targeting cytokines, growth factors or their receptors, TNF superfamily molecules, toll-like receptors, the complement system, the autoreactive immunoglobulin E system, or cancer-associated fibroblasts
- Developments in current immunotherapies in actinic keratosis or more progressed lesions including, e.g., resiquimod, PD-L1/PD-1 blocking, or immune reactions induced by the photodynamic therapy
- The effect of adjuvant vitamin D, its new metabolites, or other vitamins on carcinogenesis
- The role of skin microbiome and its changes in carcinogenesis
- The role of human papilloma viruses and vaccination in carcinogenesis
All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member). Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.
The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 2-October-2023
