Environment, phenotype and genetics: risk factors associated with BCC of the skin

Abstract

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common cancer in Caucasians and its incidence is rising. Whilst not life threatening, the tumor can cause substantial morbidity and because of long follow-up, it places a major burden on healthcare agencies worldwide. Patients with the disease demonstrate wide phenotypic diversity with respect to tumor numbers, rate of tumor appearance and site. The factors involved in patient susceptibility to basal cell carcinoma are not well understood although exposure to ultraviolet radiation in sunlight appears critical. In this review we discuss the role of environmental and genetic factors on predisposition to basal cell carcinoma and illustrate how stratification of the basal cell carcinoma cohort into high-risk subgroups is helpful in identifying factors significant in disease susceptibility.