Editorial: Genetics and epigenetics of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer

The field of genetics and epigenetics of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer is rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. Recent studies have unveiled the complex genomic landscape of cutaneous malignancies, characterized by different pathogenic variants/genetic aberrations, thus providing valuable insights into the biological heterogeneity of these diseases with critical implications for prognosis and therapy. Alongside the genomic landscape, epigenetics - defined as a complex of nongenomic mechanisms that modulate gene expression without changing the genome sequence - has taken on an increasingly important role in the pathogenesis of these skin cancers. Indeed, epigenetic regulators such as DNA methylation, various histone modifications and noncoding RNAs have been identified as crucial players in the initiation and progression of cutaneous malignancies. Nevertheless, research into these individual contributors and how they converge remains fragmented and incomplete, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive investigations that leverage cutting-edge technologies to elucidate the interplay of genetics and epigenetics underlying these diseases. These in-depth investigations will enable clinicians and researchers to identify predisposing genetic factors, biomarkers for disease progression and patient outcomes as well as novel potential targeted therapies (to be introduced in clinical practice also in combination with existing treatments like immunotherapy).