TLDR Heat shock proteins help basal cell carcinoma grow by responding to inflammation signals.
The study used single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and its interaction with the tumor microenvironment. It identified that fibroblasts in the stroma undergo cancer-specific changes, driven by STAT1, TGF-β, and inflammatory signals, leading to a WNT5A program that sustains inflammation. Tumors responded to this by producing heat shock proteins (HSPs). The role of HSP70 was confirmed as crucial for tumor growth, as its inhibition reduced BCC cell growth and Hedgehog signaling in vitro, and decreased tumor growth in a BCC mouse model. This highlighted the importance of tumor microenvironment interactions in BCC progression.
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