title: "Patch"ing up our tumor signaling knowledge.
abstract: The tumor suppressor Patched1 (Ptch1) possesses well-described roles in regulating sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling in the skin and preventing the formation of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). In this issue, Kang et al. extend their previous work to show that a naturally occurring allele of Ptch1 found in FVB mice promotes early squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) growth without aberrant activation of the SHH pathway. The study reveals new roles for Ptch1 that lie at the nexus between BCC and SCC formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Program in Epithelial Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Scott X
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Atwood
authors.forename: Ramon J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Whitson
authors.forename: Anthony E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Oro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000503:physiopathology*; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology*; D053547:Keratin-14 / Q000235:genetics*; D000072079:Patched Receptors; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D053547:Keratin-14; C507446:Krt14 protein, mouse; D000072079:Patched Receptors; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor; C000606240:Ptch1 protein, mouse; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface