Skin cancer is still one of the most common cancers worldwide and becomes life-threatening

upon malignant conversion to metastasis, especially in the case of melanoma. The induction

of metastasis involves the loss of cell-cell adhesion and the gain of migratory properties and is

often accompanied by Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). In this project we want

to investigate the role of the EMT transcription factors ZEB1 and ZEB2 during skin cancer

development and progression to metastasis in different in vivo pathological mouse models,

both for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. Primary tumor formation and progression

towards metastasis will be followed in detail in order to evaluate the contribution of ZEB1

and ZEB2 in these clinically relevant models. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis

will be performed to determine local invasion and gradation of tumor dissemination. Based on

the results of our genetic studies we aim to identify new biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and

putative drug targets for cancer therapy.