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Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is an epithelial tumour of the skin. It seldom metastasizes, but has the potential for local invasion and destruction. It usually occurs as one or several small pearly nodules with central depressions on the sun-exposed skin of older adults.
Upregulation of GLI1 of has previously been reported in sonic hedgehog (SHH) driven medulloblastoma and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Here, the authors find that SHH-inactivation of p38 results in stabilization of the transcription factor GLI1 via dephosphorylation at Ser937, resulting in expression of SHH genes and presenting a potential therapy strategy for medulloblastoma and BCC.
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.
Male-pattern baldness (MPB) is related to dysregulation of androgens. Here, authors show that MPB (but not androgens) is associated with skin cancer risk, particularly in the scalp region, suggesting that sun exposure, rather than androgens, is the main driver.
Petersonet al. report that basal cell carcinomas primarily arise from stem cells within hair follicle and touch dome epithelia, and that cutaneous nerves promote tumorigenesis.
Superficial basal cell carcinomas are a common challenge in clinical dermatology because they are frequent and surgical approaches tend to scar. A large randomized trial comparing three nonsurgical approaches has shown that all had similar clinical outcomes—so, you pay your money and take your choice.
Basal cell carcinoma has been shown to originate from activation of hedgehog signalling in interfollicular epidermal progenitor cells. Analyses of the early steps of basal cell carcinoma formation show that this process requires reprogramming of interfolliclular epidermal cells to an embryonic hair follicle progenitor-like fate, with concomitant Wnt pathway activation.
