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Skin cancers account for more than 50% of all cancers in the US [1] where there are 1.3 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer each year [2] at a total direct cost of treatment of $1.5bn [3]. There are expected to be 100,000 new cases diagnosed in the UK this year [4]. 80% of these cancers are basal cell carcinomas which tend to be localised with some lateral spread. 20% are squamous cell carcinomas which are deeper, have marginal involvement and a risk of metastasis [2]. There were estimated to be 60,000 new cases of invasive melanoma in the US in 2007 [5]. The worldwide incidence of skin cancers has been rising at rates between 3-10% per year over the last decade [6].
Most skin cancers are small (just a few mm in diameter) and can be treated by simple excision and suturing. Larger lesions (>6 mm diameter on the face and >20 mm on the torso) are likely to be referred to a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist. Based on research performed to date, the Neotherix bioresorbable scaffold product is thought to be particularly suitable for the treatment of lesions resulting from the surgical excision of skin cancers.
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