Does the Autophagy Related Gene 7 (ATG7) Have a Role in Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of autophagy related gene 7 (ATG7) in non-melanoma skin cancer. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This retrospective and prospective case-control study was performed on 104 patients with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in addition to 20 apparently healthy subjects matched for age and sex as a control group. Multiple skin biopsies were taken for immunohistochemical evaluation of ATG7 expression. RESULTS: Both epithelial and stromal ATG7 were expressed in all participants while all patients showed nucleocytoplasmic localization and controls showed both cytoplasmic and nucleocytoplasmic expression. In addition, significantly higher H-scores of ATG7 in both epithelium and stroma were detected in patients compared to controls (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: ATG7 nucleocytoplasmic topographic localization might be involved in the pathogenesis of NMSC, which can open the gate for new target therapy for this skin cancer.