Wound healing can accelerate the formation of basal cell carcinoma skin

Processes involved in wound healing may lead to an increased risk of basal cell carcinoma of the skin. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by the Karolinska Institute, Swedish Medical University.

The connection between the development of basal cell cancers and wound healing was studied in mice with the same genetic changes that occur in human tumors. The results show that the active process of healing the wound may increase the number and size of tumors.

According to scientists, tumor growth is probably due to a general increase in cell proliferation that occurs in association with wound healing. The increase is due to increased recruitment of cells with potential to initiate tumor formation.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) skin cancer is more common, and previous case reports have described an increased risk of CBC associated with chronic and acute wounds. The Karolinska study describes for the first time, the underlying mechanism at the cellular level.

"We believe that exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun along with an active process of tissue regeneration is a dangerous combination, increasing the risk of developing basal cell carcinoma," says Rune Toftgård, professor of the Institute and lead author of the study.

He points out that there is no epidemiological evidence that strongly supports the hypothesis that a severe sunburn - enough to cause tissue damage - is an important risk factor for development of BCC.

The study

A lineage tracing was used to determine where and when cells initiate the formation of tumors. Lineage is a tracking technique to label a cell always doing their best to follow it, and all daughter cells. Thus, it was found that the stem cells of hair follicle cells actively contribute to wound healing and that they and / or their daughter cells migrate out of the hair follicle to promote healing.

As a result of the process of wound healing, stem cells from hair follicles and their daughter cells at the non-follicular skin (epidermal interfollicular) acquire the capacity to initiate tumor formation also in its new location. In addition, the study shows that not all types of injury are sufficient to increase tumor formation. Damage to deeper parts of the skin are necessary for the carcinogenic effect.

"One can assume that the combination of tissue damage in severe burns and DNA damage or mutations caused by UV radiation have a similar effect," said Toftgård.