title: Identification of dysregulated genes in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Carcinogenesis is a multi-step process resulting from the accumulation of genetic mutations and subsequently leading to dysregulated genes, but the number and identity of differentially expressed genes in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is unknown at present. In order to identify dysregulated genes, we examined the relative mRNA expression present in cutaneous SCC and its precursor lesion actinic keratosis (AK) by comparison to normal skin. Snap frozen biopsies from 20 specimens of normal skin, 10 AK, and 10 cutaneous SCC were examined. Total-RNA was extracted, reversely transcribed, and 14 genes were investigated using gene-specific intron-flanking primers and quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR. Specificity was confirmed by sequencing of the PCR amplicons. Ten of 14 genes were significantly dysregulated in AK and/or cutaneous SCC by comparison to normal skin. The genes CNN2, COX4I1, COX5B, COX7C, CRLF3, CTSC, NDRG1, and LMNA showed increased expression in skin cancer (p < 0.02), while RPL15 and LGTN were down-regulated (p < 0.03). The genes differentially expressed during skin carcinogenesis may prove useful in order to understand the origin and progression of cutaneous SCC and for diagnostic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Charité, Skin Cancer Center Charité, University Hospital of Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Chantip
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gottschling
authors.forename: Kizzie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: Eoin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Currain
authors.forename: Sylke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sterry
authors.forename: Eggert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stockfleth
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nindl
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger