Patients with Recessive Dystrophic forms of EB (RDEB) are particularly prone to develop skin cancer. Such malignancies commonly appear at sites of recurrent wound healing and scarring. Unfortunately, very little is known about the chemical mechanisms which are responsible for this distressing situation.

Prof Schor has previously identified a novel chemical factor, referred to as MSF, which appears to play an important and hitherto unrecognised role in the control of both wound healing and cancer development in healthy individuals. On the basis of available information, the group believes that MSF may also play an important role in these two disease processes in patients with RDEB. In order to test this possibility, this research will measure MSF production by skin cells in RDEB patients in normal looking skin, as well as areas of active wound healing, chronic ulceration, heavy scarring and skin cancers.

Comparative information will be obtained from healthy individuals in order to ascertain how MSF expression may be altered in RDEB patients. Related laboratory studies will be concerned with discovering means whereby doctors may be able to control (either switch on or switch off) MSF expression in a manner which will simultaneously promote healthy wound healing and prevent cancer development in RDEB patients. These novel means of therapy may involve the application of active wound dressings, as well as the introduction of genes into patient skin cells (ie gene therapy) which will either modify the expression MSF or its activity.