Nonmelanoma
skin cancer (NMSC) is a major health concern worldwide. With increasing numbers in high-risk groups such as organ transplant recipients and patients taking photosensitizing medications, the incidence of NMSC continues to rise. Mouse models of NMSC allow us to better understand the molecular signaling cascades involved in skin
tumor development in order to identify novel therapeutic strategies. Here we review the models designed to determine the role of the
polyamines in NMSC development and maintenance. Elevated
polyamines are absolutely required for
tumor growth, and dysregulation of their biosynthetic and catabolic
enzymes has been observed in NMSC. Studies using mice with genetic alterations in epidermal
polyamines suggest that they play key roles in
tumor promotion and epithelial cell survival pathways, and recent clinical trials indicate that pharmacological inhibitors of
polyamine metabolism show promise in individuals at high risk for NMSC.