Defining and Targeting Differentiation of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

June 2014

Antsar Ben Ketah

basal cell carcinoma hair follicle differentiation markers telogen phase bone morphogenic proteins BMP signaling TGF-β BCC BMP TGF-beta

TLDR Basal cell carcinoma behaves like hair follicles and targeting specific pathways may help treat it.

The study aimed to define patterns of human hair follicle differentiation in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) to identify potential therapeutic targets. Researchers analyzed 20 hair follicle-specific differentiation markers in 6 BCC samples and found that BCC exhibits differentiation patterns similar to hair follicles, expressing markers of the outer root sheath, companion layer, inner root sheath, and cuticle, but not the hair shaft. The study suggested that BCC is stuck in the telogen phase of the hair cycle due to autocrine expression of bone morphogenic proteins 2 and 4. In vitro experiments showed that inhibiting BMP signaling with noggin and adding TGF-β2 induced further differentiation, indicating potential therapeutic strategies for promoting BCC differentiation.

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