Distinct Transcriptomic Landscapes of Cutaneous Basal Cell Carcinomas and Squamous Cell Carcinomas

The study analyzed gene expression profiles of 25 paired basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and 10 paired squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) with their matched normal skin tissues, revealing distinct transcriptomic landscapes. BCCs showed significant up-regulation of genes involved in Wnt and hedgehog signaling pathways, particularly C2H2-type Zinc Finger proteins, suggesting unique regulatory mechanisms. In contrast, SCCs exhibited elevated expression of genes related to cell division and the cell cycle. The research highlighted differences and similarities between human and mouse models, noting that certain mouse stem cell gene signatures were enriched in human SCCs. The findings underscored the distinct molecular pathways involved in BCC and SCC, with potential implications for targeted therapies and the need for improved mouse models to better reflect human tumor biology.