Data from Spontaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Induced by the Somatic Inactivation of Retinoblastoma and Trp53 Tumor Suppressors

This study investigates the effects of simultaneously inactivating the Trp53 and retinoblastoma (Rb) genes in mouse epidermis, revealing that the loss of p53 alone leads to spontaneous tumor development, highlighting its role as the predominant tumor suppressor. The combined inactivation of pRb and p53 accelerates the development of aggressive, undifferentiated squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) originating from hair follicles. This acceleration is linked to the premature activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor/Akt pathway, which increases proliferation in hair follicles and enhances tumor angiogenesis. The findings offer insights into epidermal tumor formation and could aid in developing treatments for aggressive SCCs.