The Carcinogenesis Of The Human Scalp: An Immunometabolic-Centered View

    Baruch Kaplan, Rebecca von Dannecker, Jack L. Arbiser
    TLDR Hair helps prevent scalp skin cancer by supporting immune protection.
    This review explores the unique epidemiology of skin cancer on the human scalp, focusing on the role of hair in cancer prevention. The authors propose that hair provides protection not merely as a physical barrier but through IL-17-biased immunosurveillance, which helps prevent the development of skin cancer. The loss of hair disrupts this immunosurveillance, facilitating the growth of neoplastic cells and increasing the risk of skin cancer. Additionally, changes in hair follicles and metabolic alterations in the stroma contribute to an environment that promotes tumor development.
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