Clinical Implications of Primary Cilia in Skin Cancer

Abrar Choudhury; Neil M Neumann; David R Raleigh; Ursula E Lang

doi:10.1007/s13555-020-00355-1

Clinical Implications of Primary Cilia in Skin Cancer

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020 Apr;10(2):233-248. doi: 10.1007/s13555-020-00355-1. Epub 2020 Jan 29.

Authors

Abrar Choudhury^{1

2}, Neil M Neumann³, David R Raleigh^{1

2}, Ursula E Lang^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
² Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
³ Department of Pathology, Dermatopathology Service, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Pathology, Dermatopathology Service, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. [email protected].
⁵ Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. [email protected].

Abstract

The primary cilium is a cell surface organelle that is an important component of cellular biology. While it was once believed to be a vestigial structure without biologic function, it is now known to have essential roles in critical cellular signaling pathways such as Hedgehog (HH) and Wnt. The HH and Wnt pathways are involved in pathogenesis of basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, respectively, and this knowledge is now beginning to inform therapeutic and diagnostic options for patients. The purpose of this review is to familiarize clinicians with primary cilia biology and how this complex cellular organelle has started to translate into clinical care.

Keywords: Basal cell carcinoma; Diagnostic tool; Hedgehog; Melanoma; Primary cilia; Sonidegib; Vismodegib.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

Publication types

Grants and funding