Researchers use genomic technology to investigate aggressive skin cancer linked to burn scars

Researchers utilized specialized genomic technology at the University of Calgary to enhance our understanding of Marjolin’s ulcer (MU), a rare, highly aggressive skin cancer that affects chronic wounds that can often arise from established scars like those caused by severe burns.

“The longer you live with a chronic wound the higher your risk of developing Marjolin’s ulcer," says Dr. Jeff Biernaskie, PhD, principal investigator and Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society Chair in Skin Regeneration and Wound Healing. “The more we know about underlying cellular interactions within the wound and how these cells are driven to become cancerous, the more likely we will be able to find a treatment which would be life-saving.”

The research team completed a cell-by-cell analysis to better understand how MU tumours grow. Using both single cell ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing and spatial transcriptomics available at UCalgary’s Centre for Health Genomics and Informatics (CHGI) they did precise mapping of gene expression and cellular interactions within a tumor. With that enhanced view the researchers could trace how a small subtype of skin cells (keratinocytes) switch their function to start behaving like a type of support cell (fibroblast) that creates the conditions that encourage tumor cells to grow.

“The cancerous keratinocytes appear to undergo a ‘career change,’ shifting from their original role as outer skin cells to adopting new characteristics resembling dermal fibroblasts, which are the support cells found deeper in the skin,” explains Sarthak Sinha, MD/PhD candidate and lead author. “This transformation, also enables them to start producing a type of extracellular matrix that is similar to what is found in developing skin. This new matrix essentially acts like fertile soil, creating the perfect environment for the cancer cells—the seeds—to take root, grow aggressively, and spread to nearby structures. It’s this interaction between the ‘seed’ and the ‘soil’ that may drive the tumor’s invasive behavior. We believe this process plays a role not only in Marjolin’s ulcer but also in other skin cancers, contributing to poor patient outcomes."

Dr. Vincent Gabriel, MD, medical director of the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Centre, says insight into how these tumours start and thrive may also help to identify potential treatments to try to prevent the tumour from metastasizing. 

“This study identifies opportunities for targeting the process that leads to Marjolin’s cancer itself. A combination of surgical excision and medical intervention may limit the effect of these aggressive tumours,” says Gabriel, associate professor at the Cumming School of Medicine, and co-author. “Successful treatments could offer greater peace of mind to burn survivors, especially those who may be highly prone to these cancers, providing significant relief after their challenging medical journeys.”

Gabriel adds MU can also be difficult to diagnose because a biopsy of the wound can miss the cancerous cells which are not uniform within the wound. The researchers say it is gratifying to share what they’ve learned with the hope someone will take it and learn more to help those diagnosed with aggressive skin cancers. The findings are published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.