Editorial: Recent advances in keratinocyte carcinomas: From molecular mechanisms to clinical perspectives

Abstract

Editorial on the Research TopicRecent advances in keratinocyte carcinomas: From molecular mechanisms to clinical perspectives Keratinocyte carcinomas (KCs), including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the most common forms of cancer worldwide, and their incidence is showing a rapidly increasing trend in the last years (1, 2). Moreover, they are still associated with significant morbidity and mortality, even if the progress in diagnosis and treatment of keratinocyte-derived tumors is substantial (3-7). Hence, KCs emerged as an important topic of scientific interest and recent advances have been achieved.In their paper, Kavasi et al. have reviewed impactful information regarding the structural and functional modulations of the KCs microenvironment. Moreover, the impact of extracellular matrix remodeling on the pathogenesis of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) was also discussed. The alteration of collagen matrix in NMSCs and the role of proteoglycans as mediators of tumor progression in KCs were emphasized, as well as the regulatory functions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the tumor microenvironment. Especially the involvement of MMPs in the immune and inflammatory mechanisms in NMSCs has attracted the researchers' attention (8-13). Another important aspect regards the immune cells infiltrating the tumor microenvironment in KCs. In both BCC and SCC have been emphasized specific patterns of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes carrying prognostic significance (14-19). Moreover, alterations in circulatory MMPs and immune and inflammatory related elements were identified in NMSCs and could be used as potential markers for invasiveness and tumor progression (10, 20,21). Thus, more and more information suggests the possible Frontiers in Medicine frontiersin.org