As the most frequently diagnosed cancer in North America, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) affects nearly a million new patients each year. At present, the exact cells that give rise to BCC?in other words, the cells-of-origin for these tumors?are currently unclear, as multiple studies have reported conflicting results. During the K99 phase of this grant, I identified wounding as a modulator of tumor cell-of-origin. In the absence of wounding, hair follicle stem cells in the bulge region are incapable of forming tumors induced by an oncogene that transduces high level Hedgehog (Hh) signaling. However, upon wounding these same stem cells leave the bulge and transit to the site of injury, where they gain the ability to form tumors. Building upon this previous work, this grant seeks to examine in greater detail the possible cells-of-origin for BCC, as well as the signaling pathways that impinge upon tumor formation.
The Aims of this proposal will include determining whether 1) Wnt, another important cell signaling pathway, collaborates with Hh in modulating BCC formation;2) whether stem cells located in the hair follicle isthmus are capable of developing tumors;and 3) whether an important receptor previously implicated in cell migration, CXCR4, plays a role in wound-induced BCC tumorigenesis. The sum of these studies will likely expand our knowledge of BCC, and hopefully increase our understanding of other tumors that rely upon deregulated Hh signaling.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Transition Award (R00)
Project #
5R00AR059796-05
Application #
8698712
Study Section
No Study Section (in-house review) (NSS)
Program Officer
Baker, Carl
Project Start
2012-07-01
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2014-07-01
Budget End
2015-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Dermatology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
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