Genetic landscape and evolution of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Official title: The genomic landscape and evolution of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11136374 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will look at DNA changes in skin squamous cell carcinoma and in nearby precursor lesions to find mutations that drive the cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $409,780 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA265786-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11136374 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would be people with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma or those with suspicious actinic keratoses who can provide tissue samples or medical data.
✕Less likely to help
People without skin lesions, without available tumor or lesion tissue, or those seeking an immediate treatment benefit are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will combine existing public DNA sequencing data with new samples from UCSF to create the largest genetic analysis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma to date. They will sequence both tumors and the adjacent precursor lesions called actinic keratoses from the same patients to compare changes that occur as benign patches turn into cancer. The team will use whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing to map driver mutations and trace the genetic steps of tumor development. Results will be analyzed to identify the earliest somatic alterations in pre-cancerous keratinocytes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable earlier detection of dangerous lesions, point to new drug targets, and improve prevention strategies for this common skin cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Smaller genomic studies of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma have identified some relevant mutations, but this larger, matched-lesion sequencing effort is relatively novel and aims to fill remaining gaps.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shain, Alan Hunter — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Shain, Alan Hunter
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.