About this Research Topic
Skin cancer originates from the different cell types residing in the skin. Its most common forms include melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma. Moreover, there are several rare cancer entities such as Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous sarcoma, and epithelial cancers of the skin adnexa. The immune system plays a crucial role in identifying and eliminating abnormal cells, and understanding the immunology of skin cancer has led to the development of innovative immunotherapies.
This Research Topic addresses novel clinical, translational, and basic research on Immunology and Immunotherapy of Skin Cancer. Despite significant progress, challenges remain, such as understanding resistance mechanisms and managing immune-related adverse events. Ongoing research aims to identify new targets, refine existing therapies, and explore combination approaches for improved efficacy.
Requested are original articles, reviews, or outstanding case reports. The topics might include, but are not restricted to:
• Immune Surveillance: The immune system constantly monitors the body for abnormal cells, including cancerous ones. Various immune cells, such as T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells, are involved in detecting and eliminating these cells.
• Tumor Microenvironment: Tumors create a microenvironment that can suppress the immune response, allowing them to evade detection. Immune checkpoint molecules, such as PD-1 and CTLA-4, play a role in inhibiting T cell activity within the tumor.
• Tumor Antigens: Tumor cells express specific antigens that can be recognized by the immune system. Melanoma, for instance, often presents antigens derived from melanocytes, which can be targeted by immune cells.
• Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Drugs like pembrolizumab and nivolumab block immune checkpoint molecules like PD-1, unleashing the immune system to attack cancer cells. Ipilimumab targets CTLA-4, enhancing T cell activation.
• Cytokine Therapy: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a cytokine that can stimulate immune cells. High-dose IL-2 has been used in treating metastatic melanoma, although its use is limited due to significant side effects.
• Adoptive Cell Transfer: This involves harvesting a patient's immune cells, enhancing them in the laboratory, and then reintroducing them into the patient. This approach has shown success in melanoma treatment.
• Vaccines: Therapeutic cancer vaccines aim to stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. While there are ongoing clinical trials, no skin cancer vaccine has been widely adopted as a standard treatment yet.
Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by robust and relevant validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this topic.
This Research Topic addresses novel clinical, translational, and basic research on Immunology and Immunotherapy of Skin Cancer. Despite significant progress, challenges remain, such as understanding resistance mechanisms and managing immune-related adverse events. Ongoing research aims to identify new targets, refine existing therapies, and explore combination approaches for improved efficacy.
Requested are original articles, reviews, or outstanding case reports. The topics might include, but are not restricted to:
• Immune Surveillance: The immune system constantly monitors the body for abnormal cells, including cancerous ones. Various immune cells, such as T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells, are involved in detecting and eliminating these cells.
• Tumor Microenvironment: Tumors create a microenvironment that can suppress the immune response, allowing them to evade detection. Immune checkpoint molecules, such as PD-1 and CTLA-4, play a role in inhibiting T cell activity within the tumor.
• Tumor Antigens: Tumor cells express specific antigens that can be recognized by the immune system. Melanoma, for instance, often presents antigens derived from melanocytes, which can be targeted by immune cells.
• Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Drugs like pembrolizumab and nivolumab block immune checkpoint molecules like PD-1, unleashing the immune system to attack cancer cells. Ipilimumab targets CTLA-4, enhancing T cell activation.
• Cytokine Therapy: Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a cytokine that can stimulate immune cells. High-dose IL-2 has been used in treating metastatic melanoma, although its use is limited due to significant side effects.
• Adoptive Cell Transfer: This involves harvesting a patient's immune cells, enhancing them in the laboratory, and then reintroducing them into the patient. This approach has shown success in melanoma treatment.
• Vaccines: Therapeutic cancer vaccines aim to stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. While there are ongoing clinical trials, no skin cancer vaccine has been widely adopted as a standard treatment yet.
Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by robust and relevant validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this topic.
Keywords: Skin Cancer, Immune Surveillance, Vaccines, Adoptive Cell Transfer, Cytokine Therapy, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Tumor Antigens, Tumor Microenvironment
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
