Progress in skin cancer: the U.K. experience

The burden of skin diseases in China: global burden of Disease Study 2019

Skin diseases continue to affect human health and cause a significant disease burden on the healthcare system.We aimed to report the changing trends in the burden of skin disease in China from 1990 to 2019, Which has an important role in developing targeted prevention strategies. We applied Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 analytical tools to calculate the age-standardized Prevalence and Incidence in 2019, number of years lived with disability (YLDs) and age-standardized YLDs from 1990 to 2019 of skin and subcutaneous diseases, notifiable infectious skin diseases and skin tumors in China. Among the skin and subcutaneous diseases in China in 2019, dermatitis contributed to the greatest YLD (2.17 million, 95% uncertainty interval[UI]: 1.28-3.36). Age-standardized YLD rates for leprosy decreased from 0.09 (95%UI: 0.06-0.13) in 1990 to 0.04 (95%UI: 0.03-0.06) in 2019; the proportional decrease was 55.56% over 30 years. Age-standardized YLDs for HIV and sexually transmitted infections increased by 26% during the same time period. Age-standardized YLDs for non-melanoma skin cancer increased at a much higher rate than melanoma between 1990 and 2019. Dermatitis and scabies continue to have an important role in the burden of skin and subcutaneous disease burden in China. The burden of non-melanoma cell cancer has increased most significantly over the past three decades.

Changing trends in the disease burden of non-melanoma skin cancer globally from 1990 to 2019 and its predicted level in 25 years

Background

The disease burden of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) has become a significant public health threat. We aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis to mitigate the health hazards of NMSC.

Methods

This study had three objectives. First, we reported the NMSC-related disease burden globally and for different subgroups (sex, socio-demographic index (SDI), etiology, and countries) in 2019. Second, we examined the temporal trend of the disease burden from 1990 to 2019. Finally, we used the Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model integrated nested Laplacian approximation to predict the disease burden in the coming 25 years. The Norpred age-period-cohort (APC) model and the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model were used for sensitivity analysis.

Results

The disease burden was significantly higher in males than in females in 2019. The results showed significant differences in disease burden in different SDI regions. The better the socio-economic development, the heavier the disease burden of NMSC. The number of new cases and the ASIR of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) were higher than that of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in 2019 globally. However, the number of DALYs and the age-standardized DALYs rate were the opposite. There were statistically significant differences among different countries. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of NMSC increased from 54.08/100,000 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 46.97, 62.08) in 1990 to 79.10/100,000 (95% UI: 72.29, 86.63) in 2019, with an estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of 1.78. Other indicators (the number of new cases, the number of deaths, the number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and the age-standardized DALYs rate) showed the same trend. Our predictions suggested that the number of new cases, deaths, and DALYs attributable to NMSC would increase by at least 1.5 times from 2020 to 2044.

Conclusions

The disease burden attributable to NMSC will continue to increase or remain stable at high levels. Therefore, relevant policies should be developed to manage NMSC, and measures should be taken to target risk factors and high-risk groups.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09940-3.

Sunproofed study protocol: A mixed-methods scoping study of sun safety policies in primary schools in Wales

BACKGROUND

Skin cancer, including melanoma and non-melanoma (keratinocyte), is increasing in incidence in the UK. Accounting for half of all cancers in England and Wales, the disease significantly impacts overstretched dermatology services. Research suggests that 86% of melanoma is preventable with modified sun exposure. Educating children about sun safety in schools can help prevent skin cancer and is recommended by major health organisations. In England, teaching sun safety in primary schools is compulsory, while in Wales this is left to school discretion.

AIMS

Understand how primary schools in Wales are responding to growing skin cancer rates and explore the effectiveness of sun safety policies in schools on knowledge and behaviour.

METHODS

Sunproofed is a mixed-methods scoping study comprising 5 work packages (WP) using survey and routine electronic health record (EHR) data supplemented by qualitative case studies. Objective(s) are to: WP1: Discover if primary schools in Wales have sun safety policies; policy characteristics; determine factors that may influence their presence and identify areas where schools need support. WP2: Determine what EHR data is available regarding the incidence of sunburn in primary school children and the feasibility of using this data to evaluate the impact of sun safety policies. WP3: Understand the impact of sun safety policies on sun-safe knowledge and behaviour amongst children, parents, teachers, and school management; identify barriers and facilitators to schools implementing sun safety policies. WP4: Co-produce guidance regarding sun safety policies and best methods for implementation in schools. WP5: Disseminate guidance and findings widely to ensure impact and uptake.

DISCUSSION

Skin cancer rates are increasing in the UK, straining limited resources. Sunproofed has the potential to inform the development of future prevention activities, both in Wales and beyond. This could reduce the number of skin cancer cases in the future and keep people healthier for longer.

Atypical pityriasis rosea in a young Colombian woman. Case report

Introduction: Pityriasis rosea is an acute and self-limited exanthemfirst described by Gilbert in 1860. Its treatment is symptomatic, and although there is no conclusive evidence, it has been associated with the reactivation of the human herpesviruses 6 and 7 (HHV-6 and HHV-7). Case presentation: A 28-year-old woman, from Bogotá, Colombia, ahealth worker, attended the emergency room due to the onset ofsymptoms that began 20 days earlier with the appearance of punctiformlesions in the left arm that later spread to the thorax, abdomen, opposite arm, and thighs. The patient reported a history of bipolar II disorder and retinal detachment. After ruling out several infectious diseases, and due to the evolution of the symptoms, pityriasis rosea was suspected. Therefore, treatment was started with deflazacort 30mg for 21 days, obtaining a favorable outcome and improvement of symptoms after 2 months. At the time of writing this case report, the patient had not consulted for recurrence. Conclusion: Primary care physicians should have sufficient training indermatology to recognize and treat dermatological diseases since manyof them are diagnosed based on clinical findings. This is an atypicalcase, in which the patient did not present with some of the pathognomonic signs associated with pityriasis rosea.

Management of Non-melanoma Skin Cancer in Transplant Recipients

Transplant recipients have a significantly higher risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancers compared with the general population and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are the most common post-transplant malignancies. Although in the general population BCC outnumbers SCC 4:1, in transplant patients this ratio is reversed and SCC is more common, with a 65- to 250-fold increased incidence. As patients in immunosuppressed states are living longer after transplants, the incidence of skin cancer in this population continues to increase. The skin cancers in transplant patients also tend to be more aggressive, with higher morbidity and mortality. Preventive strategies play an important role in transplant recipients given their increased frequency of developing both premalignant and malignant skin lesions. Sun protection and regular skin cancer screening are critical. In addition, chemoprophylaxis with systemic retinoids, nicotinamide and capecitabine can significantly reduce the development of new skin cancers. Topical 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, photodynamic therapy and cyclooxygenase inhibitors have all been investigated in transplant patients for the treatment of field cancerisation. Adjusting the immunosuppressive regimen is also an important adjuvant therapeutic strategy for managing skin cancers in transplant recipients and requires integrated multidisciplinary care with the entire transplant team. This article reviews the epidemiology of non-melanoma skin cancer in transplant patients, discusses the prevention strategies and highlights the management and treatment strategies of both field cancerisation and non-melanoma skin cancers.

Epidemiology of basal and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in the U.K. 2013-15: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), together known as keratinocyte cancers (KCs), are the commonest cancer in white ethnic populations. Recent improvements to registry data collection in England has allowed more accurate analysis of the epidemiology of BCC and cSCC and for the first time we are able to provide an accurate (representative) tumour burden for KC in the U.K.

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the incidence of BCC and cSCC in the U.K.

METHODS

A cohort of patients with KCs between 2013 and 2015 were identified using linkage to diagnostic codes derived from pathology reports collected into the national cancer registry. Data from England's cancer registry were combined with data from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. European age-standardized incidence rates (EASRs) of the first BCC and cSCC per patient per annum (PPPA) were calculated.

RESULTS

In the U.K, the EASR of the first BCC and cSCC PPPA in 2013-15 were 285 and 77 per 100 000 person years, respectively (211 120 KCs total in 2015). The mean annual percentage increase was 5% between 2013 and 2015 for both BCC and cSCC. By counting the first KC PPPA, we include an additional 51% KCs compared with the previous reporting technique which counts only the first BCC and cSCC in a patient's lifetime, yet it represents a probable underestimation of 5-11% of the true tumour count.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on an improved methodology, a more representative incidence of KC is presented, which is essential to healthcare planning and will lead to improved understanding of the epidemiology of KC. What's already known about this topic? Keratinocyte cancers (KCs) are the most common cancers affecting white ethnic populations. The incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is increasing worldwide including the U.K., most commonly in elderly male Caucasian patients. These cancers are traditionally substantially underreported and frequently excluded from national cancer statistics. What does this study add? Using improved data collection methods in England and validated tumour-reporting techniques, we report the most accurate BCC and cSCC incidence data for the U.K. ever published. Identifying the first BCC and cSCC per patient per annum, the incidence of BCC and cSCC in the U.K. (excluding Wales) was 285 and 77 per 100 000 person years, respectively, between 2013 and 2015, with more than 210 000 KCs in the U.K. in 2015.

Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase-Dependent Signalling Pathways in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) derives from keratinocytes in the epidermis and accounts for 15–20% of all cutaneous malignancies. Although it is usually curable by surgery, 5% of these tumours metastasise leading to poor prognosis mostly because of a lack of therapies and validated biomarkers. As the incidence rate is rising worldwide it has become increasingly important to better understand the mechanisms involved in cSCC development and progression in order to develop therapeutic strategies. Here we discuss some of the evidence indicating that activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks)-dependent signalling pathways (in particular the PI3Ks targets Akt and mTOR) has a key role in cSCC. We further discuss available data suggesting that inhibition of these pathways can be beneficial to counteract the disease. With the growing number of different inhibitors currently available, it would be important to further investigate the specific contribution of distinct components of the PI3Ks/Akt/mTOR pathways in order to identify the most promising molecular targets and the best strategy to inhibit cSCC.

Chemical ultraviolet absorbers topically applied in a skin barrier mimetic formulation remain in the outer stratum corneum of porcine skin

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the fate of three chemical sunscreens, isoamyl p-methoxycinnamate (IPMC), diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate (DHHB), and bis-ethylhexylphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (BEMT), topically applied to mammalian skin from a skin barrier mimetic oil-in-water formulation. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) methods were developed for the analysis of each molecule and validated. Franz cell permeation studies were conducted following application of finite doses of the formulations to excised porcine skin. A vehicle formulation containing no sunscreens was evaluated as a control. Permeation studies were conducted for 12h after which full mass balance studies were carried out. Analysis of individual UV sunscreens was achieved with HPLC following application of the formulation to the skin with no interference from the vehicle components. No skin permeation of any of the chemical sunscreens was evident after 12h. While sunscreens were detected in up to 12 tape strips taken from the SC, 87% or more of the applied doses recovered in the first 5 tape strips. When corrected for the amount of protein removed per tape strip this corresponded to a penetration depth in porcine stratum corneum of ∼1.7μm. Mass balance studies indicated total recovery values were within accepted guidelines for cosmetic formulations. Overall, only superficial penetration into the SC was observed for each compound. These findings are consistent with the physicochemical properties of the selected UV absorbing molecules and their formulation into an ordered biomimetic barrier formulation thus support their intended use in topical consumer formulations designed to protect from UV exposure. To our knowledge this is the first report of depth profiling of chemical sunscreens in the SC that combines tape stripping and protein determination following in vitro Franz cell studies.

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and non-melanoma skin cancer in inflammatory arthritis patients: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to determine the non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) risk in patients with RA or PsA exposed to MTX and other DMARDs.

METHODS

Information on medication was collected on 405 patients with RA or PsA in two private rheumatology practices and was matched to comprehensive histologically confirmed cancer registry data for the years 1978-2005. Relative risks (RRs) were estimated by logarithmic binomial modelling, and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated from year-, sex- and age-specific rates of NMSC for the local population.

RESULTS

Compared with no MTX usage, any MTX usage was associated with a higher rate of at least one histopathologically confirmed NMSC (SIR 4.64, 95% CI: 0.67, 33.2). The SIR was 4.81 (95% CI: 3.60, 6.29) for those receiving a cumulative dose >8000 mg compared with SIR 2.31 (95% CI: 1.58, 2.36) for <5000 mg. An increased risk was shown for both basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, with an apparent dose-response relationship for basal cell carcinomas but not for squamous cell carcinomas. There was an increased risk of NMSC in patients taking CSA (RR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.23, 5.13) and D-Pen (RR 3.49, 95% CI: 1.34, 4.63) in addition to MTX, but not for patients taking AZA or LEF.

CONCLUSION

MTX, and concurrent MTX and CSA or D-Pen use, is associated with an increased risk of NMSC. These results should encourage greater clinical vigilance for NMSC in treated patients with RA and PsA.

Non-melanoma skin cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) comprises basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma, together with a host of rare tumours. NMSC is the commonest malignancy among Caucasians and its incidence continues to rise annually. Exposure to UV radiation initiates approximately 90% of NMSC, causing malignant transformation of keratinocytes and suppression of the inflammatory response. Risk factors include sun exposure and immunosuppression. There are several subtypes of BCC, although histological overlap is common. Surgery has traditionally been regarded as the 'gold-standard' treatment, offering excellent cure rates and cosmetic results. Other treatment modalities include physical destruction (radiotherapy, curettage and cautery, and cryotherapy), chemical destruction (photodynamic therapy and topical 5-flurouracil) and immunomodulatory therapy (topical imiquimod). The recent development of novel hedgehog pathway inhibitors for high-risk BCC (including oral vismodegib and sonidegib) may represent a paradigm shift towards medical management of NMSC.