Approved Research

Skin Cancer Risks and Risk Prediction in Patients with Actinic Keratosis

Lay summary

Actinic keratoses are common pre-cancerous skin lesions that can become squamous cell carcinomas if untreated. Actinic keratoses are caused by chronic sun exposure and affect tens of millions of people in the United States each year. There is some evidence that having actinic keratosis may indicate an increased risk of other skin cancers, such as melanoma and basal cell carcinoma, as well as squamous cell carcinoma. Thus, actinic keratoses may be an important marker for skin cancer risk.

There are more than 10 different risk models and risk prediction tools for skin cancer risk, but only one of them includes actinic keratoses. In this study, we will create and test a risk prediction model for skin cancer in patients with actinic keratoses, which has not previously been done.

This project will take up to 36 months to complete. Completion of this project will directly inform recommendations for skin cancer surveillance in patients with actinic keratosis, a large group that is at high risk of skin cancer.