Comprehensive Molecular Characterization of Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Abstract

Over the last two decades, a number of high-throughput technologies (genome-and proteome-based) have been developed and applied on different cancer types such as squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) arising from aerodigestive and genitourinary tracts. These analyses, when comprehensively utilized, have clearly con-tributed to a better understanding of the molecular hallmarks, oncogenic pathways and immunological features of SCCs. This chapter aims to describe the SCCs most important molecular aberrations as well as their molecular classification, highlight-ing the commonalities and differences among them, independent of their body site origin. The most frequently altered oncogene is PIK3CA, involved in the PI3K/ AKT/mTOR pathway and frequently activated in many human cancers. However, alterations in the cell-cycle control TP53 gene occur in the vast majority of SCCs. New possible molecular therapies, common to all SCCs, are discussed in light of a comprehensive, panSCC analysis.