Molecular Markers in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Nonmelanoma skin carcinoma (NMSC) is the most frequent cancer in the USA with over 1.3 million new diagnoses a year; however due to an underappreciation of its associated mortality and growing incidence and its ability to be highly aggressive, the molecular mechanism is not well delineated. Whereas the molecular profiles of melanoma have been well characterized, those for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) have trailed behind. This importance of the new staging paradigm is linked to the ability currently to better clinically cluster similar biologic behavior in order to risk-stratify lesions and patients. In this paper we discuss the trends in NMSC and the etiologies for the subset of NMSC with the most mortality, cutaneous SCC, as well as where the field stands in the discovery of a molecular profile. The molecular markers are highlighted to demonstrate the recent advances in cSCC.

P16INK4aImmunostaining but Lack of Human Papilloma Virus Type 16 in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Basal Cell Carcinoma: a Report from West Iran

“…Strong p16 overexpression has been observed by immunohistochemical analysis in SCC of the cervix infected by HPVs (Sano et al,1998). In cutaneous SCC, HPV status is also associated with p16 expression (Tufaro et al, 2011). HPV-DNA and protein were not detected in 42 cases of SCC of the urinary bladder (0%) or 27 cases of urothelial carcinoma with squamous differentiation (0%).…”

Complement Factor I Promotes Progression of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…Approximately 20% of nonmelanoma skin cancers are invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs), which have potential for recurrence and metastasis. It has been estimated that the 5-year rate of metastasis for cSCC is 5% and that 20% of all skin cancer-related deaths are caused by cSCC (Tufaro et al, 2011). The main risk factor for cSCC is solar UVR, and the other important risk factors are immunosuppression and chronic cutaneous ulcerations (Kivisaari and Kähäri, 2013).…”

Complement Component C3 and Complement Factor B Promote Growth of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a keratinocyte-derived skin cancer, which is responsible for the majority of nonmelanoma skin cancererelated mortality. 1 The incidence of cSCC and its precursors [ie, actinic keratosis (AK) and cSCC in situ (cSCCIS)] is increasing worldwide. 2 Solar UV radiation is the major risk factor for cSCC, which typically arises in the sun-exposed areas of skin.…”