Carcinoma of the vulva accounts for around 1% of malignancies in women, with the majority of cases being of the squamous histotype. Rarer histologies include Bartolini's gland carcinoma, Paget's disease, melanoma, sarcomas, basaliomas and verrucous carcinomas. The main risk factors for vulvar cancer include papillomavirus infection, dysplasia, and inflammatory conditions such as lichen sclerosus. Historically, the treatment of choice for malignant vulvar tumors has been a surgical approach. Over time, innovations in pre-operative diagnostics, the development of minimally invasive surgical techniques, and the involvement of plastic surgery has made it possible to develop surgical approaches with lesser impacts on patient quality of life. Moreover, integration with other treatments, such as radio–chemotherapy, brachytherapy, or electrochemotherapy, has improved clinical outcomes, in particular for patients unsuitable for upfront surgery. Now, there is an increasing focus on pre-neoplastic conditions such as dysplasia or inflammatory diseases, whose early treatment could reduce the incidence of more aggressive disorders. Nevertheless, there is limited standardization of diagnosis and treatment schemes for these disorders, and therefore the management of vulvar cancer relies heavily on the individual expertise of the referring professional.
The Research Topic will explore clinical, molecular and translational research aspects in the field of vulvar carcinoma, as well as of pre-neoplastic conditions. A better understanding of the underlying oncogenic processes of vulvar cancer and their regulatory mechanisms is essential to improving patient outcomes. Given the rarity of these disorders and the significant negative impacts they can have on patients, there is a need for a multidisciplinary approach to improve and expand treatment options. Ongoing technological innovations in terms of imaging (i.e. fusion) and treatment modalities (i.e. brachytherapy or electrochemotherapy), as well as immunohistochemical and molecular research, are making a tailored approach more achievable. Finally, there is a need to refer patients at dedicated centers and expand and disseminate current treatment recommendations.
We welcome Original Research, Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses with high statistical power and appropriate study design features, and which provide cutting-edge updates on the following subjects:
- The oncogenic processes underlying vulvar squamous cell carcinoma, Paget disease, melanoma and vulvar dysplasia
- The role of vulval lichen sclerosus in vulvar cancer
- The application of imaging techniques including PET/CT, MRU, ultrasound and radiomics in the management of vulvar cancer
- Surgical and/or laser treatment approaches to vulvar cancer, including vulvar reconstruction
- Groin sentinel node biopsy, lymph-nodal surgery and lymphedema surgery
- Radiotherapy in vulvar cancer
- Targeted treatment approaches in vulvar cancer
- Topical treatment approaches in vulvar cancer
- Palliative care for patients with vulvar cancer, including electrochemotherapy
Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology.
Carcinoma of the vulva accounts for around 1% of malignancies in women, with the majority of cases being of the squamous histotype. Rarer histologies include Bartolini's gland carcinoma, Paget's disease, melanoma, sarcomas, basaliomas and verrucous carcinomas. The main risk factors for vulvar cancer include papillomavirus infection, dysplasia, and inflammatory conditions such as lichen sclerosus. Historically, the treatment of choice for malignant vulvar tumors has been a surgical approach. Over time, innovations in pre-operative diagnostics, the development of minimally invasive surgical techniques, and the involvement of plastic surgery has made it possible to develop surgical approaches with lesser impacts on patient quality of life. Moreover, integration with other treatments, such as radio–chemotherapy, brachytherapy, or electrochemotherapy, has improved clinical outcomes, in particular for patients unsuitable for upfront surgery. Now, there is an increasing focus on pre-neoplastic conditions such as dysplasia or inflammatory diseases, whose early treatment could reduce the incidence of more aggressive disorders. Nevertheless, there is limited standardization of diagnosis and treatment schemes for these disorders, and therefore the management of vulvar cancer relies heavily on the individual expertise of the referring professional.
The Research Topic will explore clinical, molecular and translational research aspects in the field of vulvar carcinoma, as well as of pre-neoplastic conditions. A better understanding of the underlying oncogenic processes of vulvar cancer and their regulatory mechanisms is essential to improving patient outcomes. Given the rarity of these disorders and the significant negative impacts they can have on patients, there is a need for a multidisciplinary approach to improve and expand treatment options. Ongoing technological innovations in terms of imaging (i.e. fusion) and treatment modalities (i.e. brachytherapy or electrochemotherapy), as well as immunohistochemical and molecular research, are making a tailored approach more achievable. Finally, there is a need to refer patients at dedicated centers and expand and disseminate current treatment recommendations.
We welcome Original Research, Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses with high statistical power and appropriate study design features, and which provide cutting-edge updates on the following subjects:
- The oncogenic processes underlying vulvar squamous cell carcinoma, Paget disease, melanoma and vulvar dysplasia
- The role of vulval lichen sclerosus in vulvar cancer
- The application of imaging techniques including PET/CT, MRU, ultrasound and radiomics in the management of vulvar cancer
- Surgical and/or laser treatment approaches to vulvar cancer, including vulvar reconstruction
- Groin sentinel node biopsy, lymph-nodal surgery and lymphedema surgery
- Radiotherapy in vulvar cancer
- Targeted treatment approaches in vulvar cancer
- Topical treatment approaches in vulvar cancer
- Palliative care for patients with vulvar cancer, including electrochemotherapy
Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology.
