Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are activated in cutaneous basal cell carcinoma and in the peritumoral skin. Basalcell

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is the most frequent cancer worldwide. BCC rarely metastasizes but is locally invasive and the surrounding stromal microenvironment plays a role for the tumorigenesis. Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment are essential for tumor growth in a variety of neoplasms but their role in BCC is poorly understood. Material included facial BCC and control skin obtained from the peritumoral area and from the buttocks. Next generation sequencing (NGS) was used to compare mRNA expression between BCC and peritumoral skin. qRT-PCR, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent staining were performed to validate the NGS results and to further investigate CAF-related cytokines and chemokines.