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Skin cancer research

<p>Skin cancers develop after the DNA (the genetic material) in our skin cells is damaged</p>Skin cancer is very common in the UK. Each year, more than 76,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are registered but it is estimated that the actual number of cases is at least 100,000. In addition, more than 9,500 people in the UK are diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, annually and it claims more than 1,800 lives.

Cancer Research UK is the largest funder of skin cancer research in the UK. Our broad research programme ranges from uncovering the causes of the disease to developing new treatments for patients. And we are heavily involved in raising public awareness of skin cancer through our national SunSmart campaign.

We also provide information for people affected by skin cancer on our CancerHelp website.

Below are some highlights of our skin cancer research portfolio.

Or find out more on our skin cancer briefsheet (PDF download, 100kb)

Cancer biology

Prof Fiona Watt Prof Fiona Watt

Epithelial Cell Biology

Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge

Getting under the skin

Professor Fiona Watt, the Deputy Director of our Cambridge Research Institute, is studying normal skin cells in order to understand what goes wrong in skin cancer. In particular, she is carrying out pioneering research into skin stem cells. These long-lived cells can multiply to produce many different types of skin cell and are believed to play a central role in the development of skin cancer.

 

Cancer genes

Prof Julia Newton-Bishop Prof Julia Newton-Bishop

Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine,

St James's Hospital/University of Leeds, Leeds

Finding skin cancer genes

Professor Julia Newton-Bishop works in the Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology of the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine. She studies people with family histories of melanoma skin cancer.

 

Genes

Prof Richard Marais Prof Richard Marais

Section of Cell and Molecular Biology

Institute of Cancer Research, London

Cell signalling and melanoma skin cancer

Professor Richard Marais leads the Signal Transduction Team at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). He is an expert in the underlying causes of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. His team is looking at how cells communicate with one another and how faults in these messages can cause this disease, with a particular focus on the BRAF protein.

 

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Dr Charlotte Proby Dr Charlotte Proby

Cancer Research UK Skin Tumour Laboratory

University of Dundee, Dundee

HPV infection and non-melanoma skin cancer

Dr Charlotte Proby is studying how the human papillomavirus (HPV) contributes to the development of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), the most common cancer in the UK. Dr Proby is particularly interested in finding ways to prevent skin cancers that develop in people who have received an organ transplant. These people are at 100-fold greater risk of developing this disease because their immune system is suppressed as part of the transplant procedure.

Prof Alan Storey Prof Alan Storey

HPV Apoptosis and Cancer Group

Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford

HPV infection and non-melanoma skin cancer

Professor Alan Storey leads the HPV Apoptosis and Cancer Group at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine. His research focuses on non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK. Although NMSC is rarely life-threatening, it is estimated that there are at least 100,000 cases in the UK each year making it a significant public health problem. Professor Storey's team is investigating how human papillomavirus (HPV) infection of the skin can contribute to the development of this disease.

 

Immunotherapy

Prof Peter Selby Prof Peter Selby

Section of Oncology and Clinical Research

Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Leeds

Developing and testing new ways to treat cancer

Professor Peter Selby is head of the Section of Oncology and Clinical Research at the University of Leeds. Teams in this department are carrying out lab studies into treatments for many types of cancer, including breast, ovarian, and melanoma skin cancer. Professor Selby also directs the Cancer Research UK Clinical Centre in Leeds, which brings cancer scientists and doctors together to develop new approaches to cancer care and test these in clinical trials.

 

Stem cells

Prof Fiona Watt Prof Fiona Watt

Epithelial Cell Biology

Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge

Getting under the skin

Professor Fiona Watt, the Deputy Director of our Cambridge Research Institute, is studying normal skin cells in order to understand what goes wrong in skin cancer. In particular, she is carrying out pioneering research into skin stem cells. These long-lived cells can multiply to produce many different types of skin cell and are believed to play a central role in the development of skin cancer.

 

Sun & UV

Prof Julia Newton-Bishop Prof Julia Newton-Bishop

Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine,

St James's Hospital/University of Leeds, Leeds

Finding skin cancer genes

Professor Julia Newton-Bishop works in the Section of Biostatistics and Epidemiology of the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine. She studies people with family histories of melanoma skin cancer.

Prof Lesley Rhodes Prof Lesley Rhodes

Dermatological Sciences

Hope Hospital, University of Manchester, Manchester

How much sun do we need?

Professor Lesley Rhodes is a specialist in dermatology - the study of the skin and skin diseases. She is particularly interested in the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the skin. Too much exposure to the sun causes skin cancer but, in certain circumstances, too little can lead to vitamin D deficiency. She is currently studying how much sun exposure people in the UK need in order to have enough vitamin D all year around.

 

Viruses

Dr Robert Newton Dr Robert Newton

Epidemiology and Genetics Unit, Department of Health Sciences

University of York, York

Investigating the role of viruses in cancer

Dr Newton's research focuses on how infections, in particular by viruses, play a role in cancer development. It is estimated that one in five cancers are caused by infections - for example skin cancer and cervical cancer can be caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) .