title: Squamous Cell Cancers: A Unified Perspective on Biology and Genetics.
abstract: Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) represent the most frequent human solid tumors and are a major cause of cancer mortality. These highly heterogeneous tumors arise from closely interconnected epithelial cell populations with intrinsic self-renewal potential inversely related to the stratified differentiation program. SCCs can also originate from simple or pseudo-stratified epithelia through activation of quiescent cells and/or a switch in cell-fate determination. Here, we focus on specific determinants implicated in the development of SCCs by recent large-scale genomic, genetic, and epigenetic studies, and complementary functional analysis. The evidence indicates that SCCs from various body sites, while clinically treated as separate entities, have common determinants, pointing to a unified perspective of the disease and potential new avenues for prevention and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges 1066, Switzerland; Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA. Electronic address: paolo.dotto@unil.ch.
authors.forename: G Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Dotto
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: anil2@mail.med.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Anil K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rustgi
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects