Ptch1 overexpression drives skin carcinogenesis and developmental defects in K14Ptch(FVB) mice

Ptch1 is a key regulator of embryonic development, acting through the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway. Ptch1 is best known as a tumor suppressor, since germline or somatic mutations in Ptch1 lead to the formation of skin basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). Here, we show that Ptch1 also acts as a lineage-dependent oncogene, as overexpression of Ptch1 in adult skin in K14Ptch(FVB) transgenic mice synergizes with chemically induced Hras mutations to promote squamous carcinoma development. These effects were not due to aberrant activation of SHH signaling by the K14Ptch(FVB) transgene, as developmental defects in the highest expressing transgenic lines were consistent with inhibition of this pathway. Carcinomas from K14Ptch(FVB) transgenic mice had only a small number of non-proliferative Ptch1 transgene positive cells, suggesting that the Ptch1 transgene is not required for tumor maintenance, but may play a critical role in cell fate determination at the initiation stage.