Anchorless keratinocyte survival: an emerging pathogenic mechanism for squamous cell carcinoma in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

Squamous cell carcinomas in patients suffering from recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa are highly invasive and frequently metastatic. Expression of a collagen VII fragment (NC1) has been described as a prerequisite for the development of this tumor form. This commentary focuses on potential molecular mechanisms by which expression of the NC1 fragment may augment anchorage-independent growth and survival of malignant keratinocytes.