PTEN gene in skin tumors

Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), a tumor suppressor gene, is frequently deleted, mutated or lowly expressed in various skin tumors. It takes part in the initiation and development of skin tumors and is involved in the malignant transformation of skin tumors by affecting cell differentiation, apoptosis, migration and signal transduction mainly through PI3K/Akt pathway, FAK/p130 pathway and Shc/ras/MARK pathway. Therefore, PTEN gene plays an important role in maintaining the stability of internal environment of skin and inhibiting the development of skin tumors. This review summarizes the regulation of PTEN gene by ultraviolet irradiation and the role of PTEN gene in the initiation and development of skin tumors. Key words: Skin neoplasms;  Epidermis;  Genes, PTEN