Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common skin cancer, with a lifetime risk of 14-20% that is rising every year. Although prognosis for cSCC is generally good, certain high-risk features of cSCC portend increased rates of nodal and distant metastasis, recurrence, and disease...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancers 2024-11, Vol.16 (21), p.3695
Main Authors: Pei, Michelle, Wiefels, Matthew, Harris, Danielle, Velez Torres, Jaylou M, Gomez-Fernandez, Carmen, Tang, Jennifer C, Hernandez Aya, Leonel, Samuels, Stuart E, Sargi, Zoukaa, Weed, Donald, Dinh, Christine, Kaye, Erin R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
Cancer
Cell adhesion & migration
Cell division
Cytokines
Development and progression
Growth factors
Head & neck cancer
Head and neck carcinoma
Hypoxia
Medical prognosis
Metastasis
Nerves
Oncology, Experimental
Pancreatic cancer
Pathogenesis
Radiation
Review
Risk factors
Skin
Skin cancer
Squamous cell carcinoma
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Summary:Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common skin cancer, with a lifetime risk of 14-20% that is rising every year. Although prognosis for cSCC is generally good, certain high-risk features of cSCC portend increased rates of nodal and distant metastasis, recurrence, and disease-specific mortality. One such high-risk factor is perineural invasion (PNI), which is broadly defined as the invasion of cancer into and around nerves. Compared to other high-risk factors, PNI presence is associated with the highest risk for locoregional and distant metastasis. Still, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of PNI remain poorly understood. Recent studies suggest the migration and invasion of tumors into nerves is a result of complex molecular crosstalk within the tumor-nerve microenvironment, wherein the milieu of signaling molecules simultaneously promote neuronal growth and tumor cell invasion. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that promote PNI will lead to future developments of targeted therapies that may improve locoregional control and survival. In our article, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of recent findings about the pathogenesis of PNI, clinical implications of PNI-positive disease in cSCC, available treatment modalities, and potential future therapeutic targets.
ISSN:2072-6694
2072-6694
DOI:10.3390/cancers16213695