The International Skin Carcinogenesis Conference ISCC is a biannual conference that brings together skin cancer experts from Europe, Japan and the United States as well as postdoctoral fellows and graduate students in this field to share research progress on the mechanisms of skin cancer development and strategies for prevention and therapy. Investigations into the mechanisms of skin cancer development have led to many hallmark discoveries relevant to all epithelial cancers in humans. The goal of this biannual conference is to provide a scientifically driven symposium involving didactic sessions and facilitating discussions regarding molecular and cellular targets of cancer causation and prevention and to provide a forum for exchange of the most recent and relevant information on the biological, cellular and molecular changes that occur during tumor development. A continued sharing of ideas and information through an interactive conference format continues to foster the creation of new ideas and concepts thus leading to improved strategies for cancer intervention and prevention. For the Ninth International ISCC will include cutting edge sessions on cancer stem cells in the skin and miRNA and skin cancer as well as sessions on skin pathologies of newer molecularly targeted drugs. The conference is scheduled for June 24-27, 2010 in State College Pennsylvania at the Penn State University.
Both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer are an increasing health burden for the US population. It is estimated that for 2009 there will be 1 million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 68,000 new cases of melanoma. The Ninth International Skin Carcinogenesis Conference (ISCC) is a biannual conference that brings together international experts from Europe, Japan and the United States to share research progress on the mechanisms of both non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancer development and strategies for prevention and therapy. An emphasis of this conference is on elucidating the changes in genes and gene expression that play a role in the development of skin cancer, and using mouse models to identify molecular targets that are critical for the development of cancer and can be used for prevention or therapy. This conference and the skin carcinogenesis model are significant for several reasons. First, it is through investigations into the mechanisms of skin cancer that many hallmark discoveries have been made that are applicable to many if not all human epithelial tumors. Among the most notable was the development of the multistage concept of tumor development. Second the multistage skin carcinogenesis model has been of great value in the identification and mechanistic analysis of novel anti-cancer compounds. In addition, using molecular genetics this model has been a critical tool for the analysis of specific genes and signaling pathways in cancer development. Finally, the conference provides a forum for interaction between researchers studying chemical and UV induced squamous cancer as well as melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. It is anticipated that a continued sharing of ideas and information through an interactive conference format will foster the creation of new ideas and concepts and thus lead to improved strategies for cancer intervention and prevention.
