Haploinsufficiency of the tripartite motif-containing protein 32 inhibits UVB-Induced papilloma formation

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) arises when keratinocytes in the epidermis of the skin undergo malignant conversion, often as a result of cumulative UV exposure. In the United States, cSCC is the second most common malignancy, with over half a million new cases each year. Although cSCC is usually detected at an early stage, the surgical removal of cSCC lesions can cause a high degree of morbidity. In addition, the presence of regional or distant metastases at diagnosis is associated with a large increase in mortality, with the five-year survival rate being less than 10% for patients with metastatic disease. Moreover, immunocompromised patients have a significant increased risk of reoccurrence and mortality, and patients being treated for other cancers have been known to develop cSCCs as a side effect to certain targeted therapies.