ABSTRACT

The term skin cancer generally refers to melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer. The latter is further categorized as basal or squamous cell carcinoma (BCC and SCC, respectively). Melanoma arises due to the malignant transformation of melanocytes, the pigment cells in the cutaneous epithelium or epidermis. Melanoma is the most fatal form of skin cancer due to its metastatic potential and resistance to most forms of conventional chemotherapy or radiation. In contrast, BCC and SCC are malignancies of the keratinocytes, the structural cells of the epidermis. The latter two types of cancer are highly curable, but if left untreated, BCC can cause deformities, and SCC can become invasive and metastatic.