Tumor Suppressor Identity Contributes to Phenotype Heterogeneity in Hair Follicle Stem Cell-Induced Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The study investigated the role of tumor suppressor identity in the heterogeneity of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) phenotypes originating from hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs). Using a mouse model, researchers induced constitutively active Kras and deleted specific tumor suppressors (p53, PTEN, or Rb) to observe the resulting tumor phenotypes. The findings revealed that the type of tumor suppressor deleted significantly influenced the SCC phenotype. Mice lacking p53 developed high-grade SCC with extensive proliferation and dedifferentiation, while those lacking PTEN or Rb showed different forms of hyperplasia without progressing to SCC. The study highlighted that HFSCs could drive diverse SCC phenotypes, correlating with the specific tumor suppressor deleted, emphasizing the complexity of tumor heterogeneity.