The prognostic molecular factors in precancerous lesions and nonmelanotic skin carcinoma

The most common cutaneous carcinoma, which includes basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), accounts for approximately 90% or more of all skin malignancies. Actinic keratosis, bowenoid type of actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease or SCC in situ have been considered precursors of skin SCC. Authors present the histopathological criteria of precursors of skin SCC, variants invasive SCC and BCC. Also, one discusses about the roles of immunohistochemical staining of gene products in evidence of molecular changes in cell that might occur according to the transformation from precancerous lesions to SCC.