Significance of SOX18 expression in nonmelanoma skin cancers for prediction of high-risk patients: a preliminary study

Interaction of Arsenic Exposure and Transcriptomic Profile in Basal Cell Carcinoma

Exposure to inorganic arsenic (As) is recognized as risk factor for basal cell carcinoma (BCC). We have followed-up 7000 adults for 6 years who were exposed to As and had manifest As skin toxicity. Of them, 1.7% developed BCC (males = 2.2%, females = 1.3%). In this study, we compared transcriptome-wide RNA sequencing data from the very first 26 BCC cases and healthy skin tissue from independent 16 individuals. Genes in “ cell carcinoma pathway”, “Hedgehog signaling pathway”, and “Notch signaling pathway” were overexpressed in BCC, confirming the findings from earlier studies in BCC in other populations known to be exposed to As. However, we found that the overexpression of these known pathways was less pronounced in patients with high As exposure (urinary As creatinine ratio (UACR) > 192 µg/gm creatinine) than patients with low UACR. We also found that high UACR was associated with impaired DNA replication pathway, cellular response to different DNA damage repair mechanisms, and immune response. Transcriptomic data were not strongly suggestive of great potential for immune checkpoint inhibitors; however, it suggested lower chance of platinum drug resistance in BCC patients with high UACR compared high platinum drug resistance potential in patients with lower UACR.

The Immunohistochemical Assessment of Neoangiogenesis Factors in Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Their Precursors in the Skin

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a common skin cancer. Well-limited forms can be easily treated with excision, but locally advanced cancers can, unfortunately, progress to metastasis. However, it is difficult to establish the prognosis for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and its potential to metastasize. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate neoangiogenesis in cSCC, as it plays a major role in the dissemination of neoplasia. A literature review was performed on selected neoangiogenic factors (VEGF, ANG1/2, Notch1, CD31/34/105, EGF, etc.). Most of them, including VEGF, EGFR, and CD105, had more elevated levels in the advanced stages of the lesion. The same is true for Notch1, p53, and TGFβ, which are the most frequently mutated tumor suppressors in this type of skin cancer. In addition, the inhibition of some of these markers, using Ang1 analogs, inhibitors of EGFR, TRAF6, or combined inhibitors of EGFR and IGF-IR, may lead to a decrease in tumor size. In conclusion, this literature review identified diagnostic and prognostic markers, as well as possible factors that can be used for the targeted therapy of spinaliomas.