Squamous cell carcinoma articles from across Nature Portfolio

The transcriptional program controlling the activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) remains to be elucidated. Here, the authors identify ANKRD1 as a mesenchymal-specific driver of CAF activation under negative direct control of androgen receptor, triggering AP-1 transcription factor complex activation.

A combined treatment approach that targets both skin tumor cells and macrophages prevents tumor growth in malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

A large multi-ancestry genome-wide meta-analysis identifies novel basal cell carcinoma loci and shared genetic effects with squamous cell carcinoma, providing insight into the genetic basis of these serious forms of cancer.

Skin wounds induce an epigenetic memory that accelerates the healing of subsequent injuries. The underlying mechanism is now shown to involve epigenetic chromatin modifications in stem cells from a field of distal hair follicles that surround the injury. Importantly, this mechanism also results in a predisposition for skin cancer development.

To understand malignant progression, Yuan et al. delineate the complex crosstalk between cancer stem cells and their microenvironment that is initiated by oncogenic RAS.

Baksh et al. have delineated a pathway through which serine availability is integrated with stem cell fate decisions and can control the initiation of epidermal squamous cell carcinomas.