image: Dr. Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski is chair of the College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Dermatology and co-director of the U of A Cancer Center’s Skin Cancer Institute.
view more
Credit: Photo by Kris Hanning, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships
Two researchers from the University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center and the College of Medicine—Tucson received $917,000 as part of a two-phase grant to investigate novel immune-based approaches to prevent keratinocytic skin cancers, which are the most common form of cancer in humans. An additional $2 million in funding is available contingent upon the successful completion of milestones.
The study, led by Sally E. Dickinson, research associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology, and Dr. Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, chair of the Department of Dermatology, will focus on identifying early immune signals that appear as skin transitions from healthy to sun-damaged – and eventually precancerous and cancerous – lesions.
Their goal is to develop safe and effective topical treatments that can activate the body’s own immune defenses to prevent cancer before it starts. This is an emergent strategy known as immunoprevention.
“Non-melanoma skin cancers like squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma are incredibly common but often underfunded and overlooked, especially in regard to clinical care, public health education, prevention science and research,” Dickinson said. “This research is aimed at helping address some of these concerns by creating solutions that can help people at high risk before more invasive treatments like surgery or chemotherapy are necessary.”
The research team will examine human skin samples to track immune-related proteins, especially those involving immune checkpoints, which help prevent an overactive immune system from becoming too aggressive and harming healthy tissues. Immune checkpoints are often overexpressed in tumors to avoid immune defenses that should normally remove mutant cells.
Preliminary findings suggest that immune checkpoints may serve as critical targets for preventing skin cancer at the molecular level.
Keratinocytic skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, are primarily caused by ultraviolet radiation exposure. They are especially prevalent among fair-skinned individuals with extensive sun exposure histories and are increasingly seen in immune-compromised populations, such as transplant recipients. Although more common in older adults, these cancers are being diagnosed with increasing frequency in younger adults and individuals with tanned skin.
The project, “Investigating novel targets for topical immunoprevention of keratinocytic skin cancer,” is one of only five such awards funded this fall by the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Immunoprevention Network.
Curiel-Lewandrowski, who co-directs the Skin Cancer Institute and is a member of the BIO5 Institute, has led multiple clinical trials in skin cancer chemoprevention and been instrumental in building collaborations across the university to advance early detection and prevention efforts.
“Our hope is to turn complex biological science into real-world targeted interventions that improve lives and reduce healthcare costs,” Curiel-Lewandrowski said. “This grant supports a vital step toward accomplishing that mission.”