Why UV protection is especially important for people with Gorlin syndrome
People with Gorlin syndrome have a much higher risk of developing basal cell skin cancers. Researchers studied skin cells made from the stem cells of people with Gorlin syndrome to better understand why.
They found that after UV exposure, these skin cells were less likely to die than normal skin cells. While healthy cells with too much DNA damage usually self-destruct to help prevent cancer, Gorlin syndrome cells were better at surviving by switching on genes involved in DNA repair and cell survival. Although this may sound beneficial, it also means that damaged cells can remain alive and potentially develop into skin cancer over time.
These findings help explain why people with Gorlin syndrome are especially vulnerable to UV-related skin cancers and reinforce the importance of sun protection, including seeking shade, wearing protective clothing, and using sunscreen every day.
Citation: Morita N, Onodera S, Nakamura Y, Nakamura T, Takahashi SI, Nomura T, Azuma T. Keratinocytes from Gorlin Syndrome-induced pluripotent stem cells are resistant against UV radiation. Med Mol Morphol. 2021 Jun;54(2):69-78. doi: 10.1007/s00795-020-00264-4.