title: Key differences identified between actinic keratosis and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma by transcriptome profiling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common malignancies in fair-skinned populations worldwide and its incidence is increasing. Despite previous observations of multiple genetic abnormalities in cSCC, the oncogenic process remains elusive. The purpose of this study was to elucidate key molecular events associated with progression from premalignant actinic keratoses (AKs) to invasive cSCC by transcriptome profiling.
  
  
  METHODS
  We combined laser capture microdissection with the Affymetrix HGU133 Plus 2.0 microarrays to profile 30 cSCC and 10 AKs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified a core set of 196 genes that are differentially expressed between AK and cSCC, and are enriched for processes including epidermal differentiation, cell migration, cell-cycle regulation and metabolism. Gene set enrichment analysis highlighted a key role for the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in cSCC compared with AK. Furthermore, the histological subtype of the tumour was shown to influence the expression profile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that the MAPK pathway may be pivotal to the transition from AK to cSCC, thus representing a potential target for cSCC prevention. In addition, transcriptome differences identified between cSCC subtypes have important implications for future development of targeted therapies for this malignancy.
authors: 1] Centre for Cutaneous Research, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK [2] Cancer Research UK Skin Tumour Laboratory, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
authors: S R
authors: SR
authors: Lambert
authors: Centre for Cutaneous Research, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Mladkova
authors: Centre for Cutaneous Research, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gulati
authors: Research Department of Pathology, Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Hamoudi
authors: 1] Centre for Cutaneous Research, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK [2] Cancer Research UK Skin Tumour Laboratory, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Purdie
authors: Centre for Cutaneous Research, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Cerio
authors: 1] Cancer Research UK Skin Tumour Laboratory, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK [2] Skin Tumour Laboratory, Division of Cancer Research, Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Leigh
authors: 1] Cancer Research UK Skin Tumour Laboratory, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK [2] Skin Tumour Laboratory, Division of Cancer Research, Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Proby
authors: 1] Centre for Cutaneous Research, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK [2] Cancer Research UK Skin Tumour Laboratory, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Harwood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D004817:Epidermis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases