Squamous epithelia form the lining surface of tissues in contact with the environment: the skin, oral mucosa, esophagus and respiratory tract, the genital tract, and several other specialized tissues. These tissues are at highest risk for exposure to environmental carcinogens such as UV, tobacco smoke and infectious agents. Cancers that form in squamous epithelia are among the most common human solid tumors and have high morbidity and mortality. These cancers include squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, oral cancer, head and neck and esophageal cancer, certain lung cancers and cervical cancer.We propose to organize the book so that the early chapters will focus on individual pathways and more specific mechanisms in both normal function and cancer, while the later chapters will be more integrative and include overviews of biomarkers and therapeutic development. This should increase interest for clinically oriented researchers. All authors will be encouraged to provide a balanced review in addition to highlighting their own work.

This book brings together reviews from experts who study mechanisms and signaling pathways that regulate development of squamous cancer in a variety of tissue sites, in both human and experimental mouse models, and to focus on how these specific signaling pathways can be utilized as targets for anti-cancer therapy.

Signaling Pathways in Squamous CancerChapter 1. Cell Adhesion Molecules in Carcinoma Invasion and MetastasisZiober, Humtsoe and KramerChapter 2. Roles of Integrins in the Development and Progressio of Squamous Cell CarcinomaLamar and DiPersioChapter 3. Alterations in Transforming Growth Factor beta Signaling in Squamous Cell CarcinomasXie and RiessChapter 4. Aberrant Activation of HGF/c-MET Signalign and Targeted Therapy in Squamous CancerChenChapter 5. The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in normal and Neoplastic EpitheliaRepertinger, Madson, Bischel and HansenChapter 6. Cyclooxygenase-2 Signaling in Squamous Cell CancerRundhaug and FischerChapter 7. Interacting Signaling Pathways in Mouse Skin Tumor Initiation and ProgressionCataisson and YuspaChapter 8. Protein Kinase C and the Development of Squamous Cell CarcinomaDenningChapter 9. The Transcription factor AP-1 in Squamous Cell Carcinogenesis: Lessons From Mouse Models of Skin CarcinogenesisHess and AngelChapter 10. NF-kB and IkB Kinases in Squamous CancersCostanzo, Spallone and KarinChapter 11. Regulation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Carcinogenesis by Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs)Peters and GonzalezChapter 12. p63 in Squamous Differentiation and CancerRoop and KosterChapter 13. Effects of Natural and Synthetic Retinoids on the Differnetiation and Growth of Squamous CancersKadara and LotanChapter 14. Regulation of Keratinocyte Differnetiation by Vitamin D and its Relationship to Squamous Cell CarcinomaTeichert and BickleChapter 15. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Targeted TherapiesAhn, Kin and GrandisChapter 16. Targeting UVB Mediated Signal Transduction Pathways for the Chemoprevention of Squamous Cell CarcinomaBowden and AlbertsChapter 17. Molecular Targeted Chemotherapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaLin and RoccoChapter 18. Effects and Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Dysregulated Signaling Axes in Squamous Cell Carcinoma:AKT and MTORClark, Ekshyyan and NathanChapter 19. Head and Neck Cancer and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Network: Novel Moleuclar Targeted TherapiesAmornphimoltham, Patel, Molinolo and GutkindChapter 20. High Throughput Molecular Profiling Approaches for the Identification of Genomic Alterations and Therapeutic TargetsZhou, Hu and Wong