The life of a skin cancer

The mechanisms of carcinogenesis and metastasis are becoming better elucidated. The recent literature pertaining to the current understanding of the mechanisms of carcinogenesis and metastasis was reviewed, and some of the basic information that is known about these processes and how they relate to the development of cutaneous cancers is presented in this article. The development of a skin cancer consists of a three-step process of carcinogenesis-initiation, promotion, and progression. When metastasis occurs, a six-step process of complex cellular adaptations enables the tumor cell to metastasize and proliferate successfully. The mechanisms of carcinogenesis and metastasis are pertinent not only to dermatologists and physicians who treat skin cancer but also to any physician who must manage human malignant tumors. Therefore, a general background of information on this subject is an important aspect of medical knowledge for most physicians.