Regarding the functional implications of these BCC-associated STR somatic mutations in the top 10 genes, our data suggested that STR mutations in at least BRAF and APC significantly influenced the magnitude of dysregulation of many gene pathways known to be involved in BCC (e.g., the hedgehog signaling pathway, Notch signaling pathway, and basal cell carcinoma pathway) in a way that the dysregulation of the pathway(s) was more pronounced in patients who had STR somatic mutation(s). This evidence concerns the gene BRAF and skin basal cell carcinoma.