Highlights
- •Discrepancies between the histologic analyses of cSCC and its precursors make their diagnosis difficult.
- •Protein biomarkers can ameliorate the negative impact of mis- or delayed diagnosis on patient outcome.
- •Proteomics is useful for the identification of new cSCC biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
- •Skin sampling by tape-stripping offers a non-invasive approach to cSCC biomarker discovery.
Abstract
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and its precursors, actinic keratosis (AK)
and Bowen’s disease (BD), are the most common types of keratinocytic skin lesions
(KSL) which account for the majority of non-melanoma skin cancer lethality. Currently,
clinical and histopathological criteria are used for the diagnosis, classification
and therapeutic intervention of KSLs, however discrepancies exist between the clinical
presentations and histologic analyses of these lesions, making the diagnosis difficult.
The identification of biomarkers as companion diagnostics for accurately stratifying
KSL types is required to support the paradigm shift in current cancer care to personalised,
precision medicine and ameliorate the negative impact of misdiagnoses or delayed diagnoses
on patient outcome. Also, it is essential to elaborate on the poorly defined molecular
modifications required for the initiation, development and progression of KSL from
normal keratinocytes. By harnessing recent technological advances in molecular profiling
techniques, it is anticipated that greater insight into the various combinations of
proteomic events or alternative pathways underlying carcinogenesis will be gained.
This review will explore recent genomic studies in KSL followed by assessing the feasibility
and significance of mass spectrometry-based proteomics profiling as a promising approach
to a better understanding of the oncogenic pathways underpinning the formation and
progression of KSL lesions and in aiding the identification of novel biomarkers and
new therapeutic targets. The development of non-invasive tools such as tape-stripping
coupled with proteomic analysis alone or in conjunction with imaging and genomic technologies
will complement existing clinical and histopathological parameters, leading to an
improvement in patient outcomes.
Abbreviations:
AK (actinic keratosis), BD (Bowen’s disease), cSCC (cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma), KSL (keratinocytic skin lesions), SWATH-MS (sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra)Keywords
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Biography
Dr Ali Azimi is a post-doctoral research fellow with the Department of Dermatology at the University of Sydney, Australia. Dr Azimi, in the past few years, has been involved in utilising cutting-edge mass-spectrometry-based proteomics to resolve the molecular landscape of skin cancers including melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. As alternative to biopsy, he has also investigated the use of non-invasive tape-stripping method for proteomic investigation of skin cancers. In collaboration with experts in histopathology, genomics and proteomics, Dr Azimi aims to work towards the introduction of multi-modality research studies in skin cancers to allow a better understanding of the lesions.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 07, 2020
Accepted:
March 26,
2020
Received in revised form:
February 1,
2020
Received:
November 17,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
