Skin cancer in immunosuppressed patients

Abstract

A healthy immune system helps protect patients against skin cancer. Both branches of the immune system, innate and adaptive, identify and remove cancer cells.Macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells are part of the innate or nonspecifi c immune system, and phagocytose cellular debris and foreign substances such as microbes or cancer cells. NK cells, a subset of white blood cells, are cytotoxic. 3 All cells in the body have major histocompatibility markers that identify cells as self rather than nonself or foreign. A cancer cell or a virus-infected cell loses its self marker. NK cells bind to these cells with no self marker and release cytotoxic granules into the cell to cause its death. 3 Components of the acquired, adaptive, or specifi c immune system also protect against cancer. Cytotoxic T cells are a part of the adaptive immune system. When something goes awry within a cell, major histocompatibility 1 markers bind to these abnormal cancer proteins and bring them to the cell membrane. This is a signal to the cytotoxic T cells to come and destroy proteins that are cancerous or otherwise malformed.© INGE BLESSAS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM I mmunosuppression is becoming a common comorbidity in the United States. Advances in management of numerous conditions including HIV, hematologic malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma, solid organ transplantation, and bone marrow transplantation have resulted in patients living longer with chronic immunosuppression. 1 Iatrogenic or medication-induced immunosuppression as a treatment for autoimmune conditions also is increasing. 2

Clinician’s Ability to Identify Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer on 3D-Total Body Photography Sectors that Were Initially Identified during In-Person Skin Examination with Dermoscopy

“…Individuals at high risk for NMSC require close highquality follow-up, but this cannot always be guaranteed, especially in rural areas [18,[20][21][22][23][24][25]. Transplant patients [18,[20][21][22][23][24][25].…”

“…Individuals at high risk for NMSC require close highquality follow-up, but this cannot always be guaranteed, especially in rural areas [18,[20][21][22][23][24][25]. Transplant patients [18,[20][21][22][23][24][25]. Meanwhile, patients with occupational ultraviolet-induced skin lesions need regular monitoring for early detection of actinic keratoses and in-situ SCC or NMSC [26].…”

“…Individuals at high risk for NMSC require close high-quality follow-up, but this cannot always be guaranteed, especially in rural areas [18, 20–25]. Transplant patients tend to have larger tumors and more postoperative complications due to immunosuppression, and therefore early diagnosis is crucial [18, 20–25].…”

“…Individuals at high risk for NMSC require close high-quality follow-up, but this cannot always be guaranteed, especially in rural areas [18, 20–25]. Transplant patients tend to have larger tumors and more postoperative complications due to immunosuppression, and therefore early diagnosis is crucial [18, 20–25]. Meanwhile, patients with occupational ultraviolet-induced skin lesions need regular monitoring for early detection of actinic keratoses and in-situ SCC or NMSC [26].…”

Advancements in nanoparticle-based treatment approaches for skin cancer therapy

“…Other than the United States, the highest incidence rate of skin cancer is also perceived in Australia and New Zealand, with an average case of 33 per 1,00,000 residents, followed by countries like Norway and Denmark (northern European countries) [ 5 , 8 ]. Some of the proven risk factors for skin cancer include exposure to ultraviolet radiation [ 9 , 10 ], chemical carcinogens [ 11 , 12 ], genetic modulation [ 13 , 14 ], fair skin [ 15 ], immunosuppression [ 16 – 18 ], etc. Based on the cellular origin, skin cancer is categorized into two types, i.e., melanoma skin cancer (melanocytes) and non-melanoma skin cancer (keratinocytes).…”