Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and the DNA Damage Response: pATM Expression Patterns in Pre-Malignant and Malignant Keratinocyte Skin Lesions

Ferina Ismail (Lead / Corresponding author), Mohamed Ikram, Karin Purdie, Catherine Harwood, Irene Leigh, Alan Storey

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    15 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Recent evidence suggests that an initial barrier to the emergence of tumours is a DNA damage response that evokes a counter-response which arrests the growth of, or eliminates, damaged cells. Early precursor lesions express markers of an activated DNA damage response in several types of tumour, with a diminishing response in more advanced cancers. An important marker of DNA damage is ATM which becomes phosphorylated (pATM) upon activation. We have investigated pATM expression patterns in cultured keratinocytes, skin explants and a spectrum of pre-malignant to malignant keratinocyte skin lesions by immunohistochemistry. We found that pATM was mainly localised to the Golgi apparatus, which contrasts with its nuclear localisation in other tissues. Upon UV irradiation there is transient formation of pATM in nuclear foci, consistent with recruitment to the sites of DNA damage. By immunohistochemistry we show pATM expression in precancerous keratinocyte lesions is greater and predominantly nuclear when compared to the invasive lesions where pATM is weaker and predominantly cytoplasmic. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the DNA damage response acts as a barrier to cutaneous tumour formation, but also suggests that ATM expression in skin is different compared to other tissues. This may be a consequence of the constant exposure of skin to UVR, and has implications for skin carcinogenesis.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numbere21271
    Pages (from-to)-
    Number of pages14
    JournalPLoS ONE
    Volume6
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2011

    Keywords

    • NF-KAPPA-B
    • GENE-PRODUCT
    • ATM
    • CANCER
    • PROTEIN
    • LOCALIZATION
    • PROGRESSION
    • METASTASIS
    • APOPTOSIS
    • TUMOR

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