Skin hyperpigmentation usually results from an increased number or activity of melanocytes. The degree of pigmentation of skin depends on the amount and type of melanin, degree of skin vascularity, presence of carotene and thickness of the stratum corneum. Common causes of hyperpigmentation include post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, solar lentigines, ephelides (freckles) and café-au-lait macules. Some skin tumors can be hyperpigmented as basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and malignant melanoma (MM).

A recent article published in Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention was to ascertain the role of stem cell factor (SCF) – a growth factor, inskin hyperpigmented disorders and its interaction with its receptor – c-kit, and the survival of melanocytes.

This study enrolled 60 patients complaining of hyperpigmented skin lesions – 20 with melasma; 20 solar lentigines and 20 freckles; and 36 patients with skin tumors (14 BCC, 12 SCC and 10 MM). Punch skin biopsies were taken from the previous lesions. Immunohistochemical staining of samples was done using the stem cell factor (SCF).

The results showed a positive expression of SCF in all cases of melasma, solar lentigines and freckles with significant increase in the intensity of expression in the lesioned areas than the non-lesionalregions. Meanwhile, there was a statistically significant increase in the expression of SCF in BCC and melanoma tumor cells.

The findings suggested that SCF plays a critical role in skin hyperpigmented disorders and the inhibition of SCF can be used as a target for the developing of new anti-pigmentary lines of treatment. It was also stated that SCF can be involved in the emergence of some skin tumors.

Source: Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. 2019; 20(12): 3723–3728.doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.12.3723