Recent progress in understanding the role of genes in the pathogenesis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma*

Abstract

AbstractCutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common skin tumor in humans. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is an important environmental risk factor for cSCC; other risk factors include human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, chronic inflammation, and chronic wounds. A large proportion of patients present with an aggressive form of cSCC at the time of diagnosis, which is often accompanied by regional lymph node involvement and distant metastases. The long-term prognosis for these highly metastatic diseases is extremely poor, with a 10-year survival rate of less than 10%. Therefore, clarifying the pathogenesis of this tumor is of great significance and may contribute to the identification of novel biomarkers and development of new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on the recent progress in genes related to the development of this tumor, intending to aid future investigations into the genetic alterations related to cSCC.