THEThe skin is often the target organ of new anticancer drugs. The twelfth edition of the conference “The Found Body”, in Rome on November 15th. This year’s theme, “Skin toxicities & oncology therapies: clinical management for quality of life, addresses one of the most current challenges of modern medicine: the dermatological care of cancer patients. Il Corpo Ritrovato was born 15 years ago from a courageous and pioneering intuition of Professor Pucci Romano which, together with the Professor Gabriella Fabbrociniwas the first to recognize the central role of the skin as a target organ of toxicities from oncological therapies.
Skin and anticancer therapies: a new dermatology
«I am very proud of this intuition. At the time, no one had yet considered such an approach. It was a personal matter that gave me the input: a friend had had big problems related to oncology treatments and this made me understand that I had to get my hands on it. Unfortunately still today many cancer patients are orphans of dermatological therapy which, in the face of an extension of life, can also improve its quality. They are people who are neglected not for lack of attention, but because it is a new subject. From here a new dermatology was born, a different way of understanding treatment.
Gabriella Fabbrocini immediately believed in this project, even if it does not have great economic appeal. However, this type of care requires a deep commitment and complex study, which must be synergistic with oncologists. If the mechanism of action of the anticancer drug is not known, in fact, it is not possible to have an effective antidote”, explains the Professor Pucci Romanodermatologist, teacher of dermatological techniques applied to cosmetology at theCatholic University of the Sacred Heart and president Skineco. In an era in which the topic was almost unexplored, the idea of create a place for multidisciplinary discussion between dermatologists and oncologists it gave rise to a “new dermatology”, now increasingly recognized internationally.
A congress between science and care
«The introduction of new anticancer drugs are revolutionizing the treatment of tumorsallowing many tumors to be treated with ever greater effectiveness. However, these extraordinary therapeutic advances they also resulted in a significant increase in skin toxicitiesand the dermatological side effects of the therapies often have a very impact on the daily life and quality of life of patients. As a dermatologist expert in oncomatology, I see every day how early specialist management can make the difference: promptly identify skin side effects, treat them in a targeted manner and prevent complications allows not only to alleviate symptoms and restore well-being to patients, but also to guarantee the continuity of oncological therapies, avoiding interruptions or dose reductions”, continues the Doctor Davide Fattoredoctor-surgeon specialist in Dermatology and Medical Director at the UOC of Clinical Dermatology ofFederico II University Hospital of Naples, among the organizers of the conference.
The focus of the 2025 edition
The scientific program of the XII edition includes the participation of dermatologists, oncologists and patient associationswith a highly multidisciplinary approach. He will intervene remotely Paolo AsciertoPresident of Melanoma Foundation and director of the Melanoma Oncology, Oncological Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapies Unit ofPascale Institute of Naples. Ample space will be dedicated to management and treatment of skin toxicities from immunotherapy and molecular targeted therapiesthe prevention of side effects and the role of aesthetic medicine in cancer patients and the use of lasers and new support techniques to improve the quality of life and self-perception of patients. In an era of extraordinary scientific and therapeutic changes, The Found Body an appointment is confirmed to reflect on the centrality of skin well-being in the oncology path and on the importance of joint work between dermatologists and oncologists.