22-06-2013 | Non-melanoma skin cancer | Article
5. Basal Cell Carcinoma: Molecular and Pathological Features
Publisher: Springer New York
Abstract
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant tumour of humans, recording a progressive increase in incidence during the last decades. Basal cell carcinomas are locally destructive malignancies, mainly involving sun-exposed areas, such as head and neck skin. Basal cell carcinoma derives from basaloid epithelia located in the follicular bulges, and its development seems to be related to the deregulation of Hedgehog signalling pathway, primarily studied in the Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, characterised by a wide range of developmental abnormalities and predisposition to neoplasm, such as basal cell carcinomas. Basal cell carcinoma shows a clinical favourable behaviour, but some pathological features could suggest a more aggressive clinical course. In addition, the high incidence is responsible of a significant increasing workload for the health service, in relation to their treatment. Thus, novel therapy approaches have been developed in order to improve the treatment.