Skin Carcinogenesis in Man and in Experimental Models

The detection of cancer risk factors and their possible avoid­ ance would most effectively contribute to the fight against cancer. Research in these areas depends to a substantial degree on in vivo experimental animal models and on epide­ miologic studies, including data from cancer registries. When the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum was founded in 1964, its division "Mechanisms of Tumorigenesis" and a number of other divisions became engaged in research on chemical carcinogenesis of the skin, mainly using the mouse skin as an experimental model. Their interest orig­ inated in part from investigations of the new and at that time controversial pathogenic principle of conditional car­ cinogens as represented by certain tumor promoters which are per se noncarcinogenic. During the past 25 years, conditional carcinogens in terms of tumor promoters were established as anew, nonclassical category of cancer risk factors besides the classical solitary carcinogens. In the course of this exciting period, scientists of our center started cooperative programs with clinical dermato­ logists of the University of Heidelberg at the Clinics of Dermatology in Heidelberg and Mannheim, to extend the scope of their investigations into clinical oncology and to contribute by experimental approaches to solving problems in clinical oncology. This led to a gradual shift from mere animal studies to the more direct analyses of human tumors and opened up for us a new phase of research.

Inhalt

I. General Aspects.- Genetic Determinants in Carcinogenesis.- Transforming Growth Factor Regulation of Keratinocyte Growth.- Epithelial Stem Cells, Hair Follicles, and Tumor Formation.- The Skin: Initiation and Target Site of Immune Responses.- II. Melanocyte Carcinogenesis.- Melanocyte Carcinogenesis: Facts and Fancies.- The German Melanoma Registry and Environmental Risk Factors Implied.- Fair Complexion and Risk of Malignant Melanoma of the Skin Based on Experience from the Danish Cancer Registry.- Dysplastic Nevi-Dysplastic Nevus Syndromes: Clinical Features and Genetic Aspects.- Integrins and Melanoma Progression.- Growth Regulation in Normal and Malignant Melanocytes.- III. Keratinocyte Carcinogenesis.- Keratinocyte Carcinogenesis: Introduction.- Diversity of Epithelial Skin Tumors: Thoughts and Comments on Some Basic Principles.- Keratinocyte Alterations in Skin Tumour Development.- Cellular and Molecular Changes During Mouse Skin Tumor Progression.- Influence of Aging and Malignant Transformation on Keratinocyte Gene Expression.- Molecular Mechanisms of Skin Carcinogenesis Induced by Chemicals and Ionizing Radiation.- Threshold-like Dose Response of Mouse Skin Cancer Induction by Repeated Beta Irradiation and its Relevance to Radiation-Induced Human Skin Cancer.- Environmental Risk Factors for Skin Cancer.- Ultraviolet Carcinogenesis: Environmental Effects of Ozone Depletion.- Experimental Ultraviolet Carcinogenesis.- Xeroderma Pigmentosum Patients from Germany (the Mannheim XP Collection): Clinical and Biochemical Characteristics.- The In Vitro Analysis of Biochemical Changes Relevant to Skin Carcinogenesis.- Positive and Negative Growth Control in Multistage Skin Carcinogenesis.- The Role of Endogenous Factors in Skin Carcinogenesis.- In Vitro Transformation and Tumor Progression.- Human Papillomaviruses and Cancer.- Skin Carcinogenesis: A Health Problem Meets with a Scientific Challenge.