Our Funds at Work

Understanding how basal cell carcinomas grow in human skin and how hair follicles contribute to their development.

Kevin McElwee, MD, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

A form of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is believed to develop as a result of sunlight induced gene mutations in skin and hair follicle cells. Over 70,000 cases of BCC occur in Canada each year many of which must be treated by expensive surgical removal. Recent studies by the grant applicants have identified a number of genes that are highly expressed in BCCs as compared to healthy skin. In this study we wish to examine BCCs for specific hair follicle expressed gene products and whether these hair follicle products are over or under expressed in BCCs. By understanding what hair follicle specific gene products are expressed and how they are expressed will help to define how and why BCCs develop.

Once we have confirmed that key hair follicle related products are highly expressed in human BCCs, we shall then use animal models to show how these products could stimulate BCC growth. Next, we shall try to prevent BCC development by blocking the actions of these hair follicle/BCC growth-promoting products using “biological drugs”. This study will help us to understand the mechanisms involved in BCC development and we may identify new ways to block their growth.

New drug treatments for BCC may reduce or even avoid the need for surgical removal of the cancer and may be a cheaper and less physically and psychologically damaging approach for the patient than surgical removal.

(C2006)