Clarifying Progress on the Genomic Landscape of Actinic Keratosis

Most cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) arise from actinic keratoses (AKs), making these premalignant lesions attractive targets for therapeutic intervention before transformation. In a new article of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Thomson et al. (2021) characterize the genetic alterations in AKs and identify significantly mutated drivers associated with risk factors such as UVR or azathioprine along with signaling pathways that may regulate the progression from AK to cSCC.

Automated summary

The study examined genetic alterations in actinic keratoses, a precancerous lesion that often leads to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, identifying mutated drivers related to risk factors like UVR or azathioprine and potential signaling pathways regulating the transformation process.