title: Anchorless keratinocyte survival: an emerging pathogenic mechanism for squamous cell carcinoma in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.
abstract: Squamous cell carcinomas in patients suffering from recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa are highly invasive and frequently metastatic. Expression of a collagen VII fragment (NC1) has been described as a prerequisite for the development of this tumor form. This commentary focuses on potential molecular mechanisms by which expression of the NC1 fragment may augment anchorage-independent growth and survival of malignant keratinocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. ulrich.rodeck@mail.jci.tju.edu
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Rodeck
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fertala
authors.forename: Jouni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uitto
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002470:Cell Survival; D016108:Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*