Overview
Background
I am a clinician-scientist specialising in oncodermatology, with a focus on skin cancers, translational research, and metabolism-driven carcinogenesis. My work bridges clinical dermatology and cancer research, aiming to improve patient outcomes through innovative therapeutic strategies.
I trained in dermatology and cancerology, completing rotations in oncology, radiotherapy, haematology, and oncodermatology at leading institutions, including the Institut Gustave Roussy (France). My research initially focused on energy metabolism rewiring in UVB-induced carcinogenesis, contributing to key publications (Cell Reports, 2018; Oncogenesis, 2019: Free Radicals Biology & Medicine, 2025). I leaded the MITOSKIN project, investigating metabolic and histological profiles across different stages of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and finished my PhD in 2022.
Since January 2023, I have been a postdoctoral research fellow at the Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, under Prof. Kiarash Khosrotehrani. My current research focuses on solid organ transplant recipients at high risk of aggressive skin cancers. I am coordinating two major translational studies (Siroskin and CetPro), investigating targeted therapies, biomarkers, and novel prevention strategies.
My goal is to translate scientific discoveries into clinical applications, advancing personalised treatment approaches for high-risk patients.
Availability
- Dr Lea Dousset is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Diploma of Medicine, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2
- Advanced Diploma of Dematology and Venereology, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2
- Advanced Diploma of Oncology and Carcinogenesis, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2
- Postgraduate Diploma of Palliative Care Nursing, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2
- Doctor of Philosophy of Cellular Biology and Microbiology, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2
Research impacts
As an early-career postdoctoral research fellow, I lead a translational research program focused on developing novel therapeutic strategies for aggressive skin cancers, particularly in high-risk populations such as solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs). My work integrates clinical trial management, biomarker discovery, and targeted therapies to improve cancer prevention and treatment.
I have made substantial contributions to the field of oncodermatology, particularly in cancer metabolism, tumour immunology, and drug resistance mechanisms. My research has resulted in peer-reviewed publications, industry partnerships, and clinical trials, including:
- Siroskin (Phase III trial): Evaluating topical mTOR inhibitors for skin cancer prevention.
- CetPro (Phase II trial): Investigating a Cetuximab-Prochlorperazine combination for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).
With 40 publications indexed in Scopus (January 2025), an h-index of 14, and 906 citations, my research is widely recognised, with 58% of my papers published in top-quartile journals and a Field-Weighted Citation Impact of 1.79. I led the MITOSKIN biobank, enabling molecular profiling of cSCCs, and pioneered the first genomic sequencing collaboration between my research teams.
By leveraging genomic profiling, spatial transcriptomics, and immunotherapeutic strategies, my research is shaping new cancer treatment paradigms and improving outcomes for high-risk patients worldwide.
Works
Search Professor Lea Dousset’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Journal Article
Critical role of Aquaporin-1 and telocytes in infantile hemangioma response to propranolol beta blockade
Moisan, François, Oucherif, Sandra, Kaulanjan-Checkmodine, Priscilla, Prey, Sorilla, Rousseau, Benoît, Bonneu, Marc, Claverol, Stéphane, Gontier, Etienne, Lacomme, Sabrina, Dousset, Lea, Couffinhal, Thierry, Toutain, Jerome, Loot, Maya, Cario-André, Muriel, Jullié, Marie-Laure, Léauté-Labrèze, Christine, Taieb, Alain and Rezvani, Hamid Reza (2021). Critical role of Aquaporin-1 and telocytes in infantile hemangioma response to propranolol beta blockade. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118 (7) e2018690118, 1-11. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2018690118
2021
Journal Article
Real-World Survival in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma after Discontinuation of Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy for Objective Response or Adverse Effects: A Retrospective Study
Valentin, Julie, Ferté, Thomas, Dorizy-Vuong, Valérie, Dousset, Léa, Prey, Sorilla, Dutriaux, Caroline, Pham-Ledard, Anne, Beylot-Barry, Marie and Gérard, Emilie (2021). Real-World Survival in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma after Discontinuation of Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy for Objective Response or Adverse Effects: A Retrospective Study. Journal of Oncology, 2021 5524685, 1-8. doi: 10.1155/2021/5524685
2021
Journal Article
Drug-induced bullous lichenoid eruption: a side effect of nivolumab triggered by the TLR agonist imiquimod
Costedoat, Ingrid, Vergara, R., Dousset, Lea, Gerard, Emilie, Prey, Sorilla, Dutriaux, Caroline, Beylot-Barry, Marie and Pham-Ledard, Anne (2021). Drug-induced bullous lichenoid eruption: a side effect of nivolumab triggered by the TLR agonist imiquimod. European Journal of Dermatology, 31 (1), 91-92. doi: 10.1684/ejd.2020.3951
2020
Journal Article
Adverse events, need for hospitalization and systemic immunosuppression in very older patients (over 80 years) treated with anti-PD-1 for metastatic melanoma
Barailler, Héloïse, Salomon, Guillemette, Dutriaux, Caroline, Prey, Sorilla, Gérard, Emilie, Dousset, Léa, Mertens, Cécile, Beylot-Barry, Marie, Meyer, Nicolas and Pham-Ledard, Anne (2020). Adverse events, need for hospitalization and systemic immunosuppression in very older patients (over 80 years) treated with anti-PD-1 for metastatic melanoma. Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 11 (8), 1340-1343. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2020.03.003
2020
Journal Article
Impact on quality of life and autonomy of patients aged over 75 years treated with anti-PD-1 for metastatic melanoma: A single-centre prospective study Impact sur la qualité de vie et l'autonomie des patients de plus de 75 ans traités par anti-PD-1 pour un mélanome métastatique : étude prospective monocentrique
Barailler, H., Dousset, L., Mertens, C., Maurel, A., Gérard, E., Prey, S., Dutriaux, C., Beylot-Barry, M. and Pham-Ledard, A. (2020). Impact on quality of life and autonomy of patients aged over 75 years treated with anti-PD-1 for metastatic melanoma: A single-centre prospective study Impact sur la qualité de vie et l'autonomie des patients de plus de 75 ans traités par anti-PD-1 pour un mélanome métastatique : étude prospective monocentrique. Annales de Dermatologie et de Venereologie, 147 (11), 713-720. doi: 10.1016/j.annder.2020.07.012
2020
Journal Article
Most chilblains observed during the COVID-19 outbreak occur in patients who are negative for COVID-19 on polymerase chain reaction and serology testing*
Le Cleach, L., Dousset, L., Assier, H., Fourati, S., Barbarot, S., Boulard, C., Bourseau Quetier, C., Cambon, L., Cazanave, C., Colin, A., Kostrzewa, E., Lesort, C., Levy Roy, A., Lombart, F., Marco-Bonnet, J., Monfort, J. B., Samimi, M., Tardieu, M., Wolkenstein, P., Sbidian, E. and Beylot-Barry, M. (2020). Most chilblains observed during the COVID-19 outbreak occur in patients who are negative for COVID-19 on polymerase chain reaction and serology testing*. British Journal of Dermatology, 183 (5), 866-874. doi: 10.1111/bjd.19377
2020
Journal Article
Synergistic effect of anti-PD1 immunotherapy then radiotherapy in advanced basal cell carcinoma Synergie de la séquence immunothérapie par anti-PD1 et radiothérapie au cours d'un carcinome basocellulaire avancé
Malmontet, T., Dousset, L., Gerard, E., Ouhabrache, N., Pham-Ledard, A. and Beylot-Barry, M. (2020). Synergistic effect of anti-PD1 immunotherapy then radiotherapy in advanced basal cell carcinoma Synergie de la séquence immunothérapie par anti-PD1 et radiothérapie au cours d'un carcinome basocellulaire avancé. Annales de Dermatologie et de Venereologie, 147 (3), 228-232. doi: 10.1016/j.annder.2019.08.019
2019
Journal Article
Worsening and newly diagnosed paraneoplastic syndromes following anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 immunotherapies, a descriptive study
Manson, Guillaume, Maria, Alexandre Thibault Jacques, Poizeau, Florence, Danlos, François-Xavier, Kostine, Marie, Brosseau, Solenn, Aspeslagh, Sandrine, Du Rusquec, Pauline, Roger, Maxime, Pallix-Guyot, Maud, Ruivard, Marc, Dousset, Leá, Grignou, Laurianne, Psimaras, Dimitri, Pluvy, Johan, Quéré, Gilles, Grados, Franck, Duval, Fanny, Bourdain, Frederic, Maigne, Gwenola, Perrin, Julie, Godbert, Benoit, Taifas, Beatris Irina, Forestier, Alexandra, Voisin, Anne-Laure, Martin-Romano, Patricia, Baldini, Capucine, Marabelle, Aurélien, Massard, Christophe ... Michot, Jean-Marie (2019). Worsening and newly diagnosed paraneoplastic syndromes following anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 immunotherapies, a descriptive study. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, 7 (1) 337, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s40425-019-0821-8
2019
Journal Article
Radiation-induced bullous lichen planus: An isomorphic manifestation of radiotherapy
Cirotteau, Paul, Lucas, Philippine, Dousset, L., Cales, Valérie, Gilliot, Olivier and Jouary, Thomas (2019). Radiation-induced bullous lichen planus: An isomorphic manifestation of radiotherapy. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 99 (11), 1033-1034. doi: 10.2340/00015555-3258
2019
Conference Publication
Commonly Used Drugs in Rheumatology May Alter Anti-Tumoral Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Kostine, Marie, Mauric, Eleonora, Barnetche, Thomas, Rouxel, Lea, Dutriaux, Caroline, Dousset, Lea, Prey, Sorilla, Beylot-Barry, Marie, Seneschal, Julien, Veillon, Remi, Charlotte, Vergnenegre, Daste, Amaury, Charlotte, Domblides, Sionneau, Baptiste, Gross-Goupi, Marine, Ravaud, Alain, Forcade, Edouard, Bannwarth, Bernard, Mehsen-Cetre, Nadia, Truchetet, Marie-Elise, Richez, Christophe and Schaeverbeke, Thierry (2019). Commonly Used Drugs in Rheumatology May Alter Anti-Tumoral Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Annual Meeting of the American-College-of-Rheumatology/Association-of-Rheumatology-Professionals (ACR/ARP), Atlanta Ga, Nov 08-13, 2019. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
2019
Journal Article
UVB-induced DHODH upregulation, which is driven by STAT3, is a promising target for chemoprevention and combination therapy of photocarcinogenesis
Hosseini, Mohsen, Dousset, Léa, Michon, Pauline, Mahfouf, Walid, Muzotte, Elodie, Bergeron, Vanessa, Bortolotto, Doriane, Rossignol, Rodrigue, Moisan, François, Taieb, Alain, Bouzier-Sore, Anne-Karine and Rezvani, Hamid R. (2019). UVB-induced DHODH upregulation, which is driven by STAT3, is a promising target for chemoprevention and combination therapy of photocarcinogenesis. Oncogenesis, 8 (10) 52, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41389-019-0161-z
2019
Journal Article
Loss of Epidermal HIF-1α Blocks UVB-Induced Tumorigenesis by Affecting DNA Repair Capacity and Oxidative Stress
Mahfouf, W., Hosseini, Mohsen, Muzotte, Elodie, Serrano-Sanchez, Martin, Dousset, Lea, Moisan, François, Rachidi, W., Taieb, A., Rudolf, Jana and Rezvani, Hamid Reza (2019). Loss of Epidermal HIF-1α Blocks UVB-Induced Tumorigenesis by Affecting DNA Repair Capacity and Oxidative Stress. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 139 (9), 2016-2028.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2019.01.035
2019
Journal Article
Vitiligo-like lesions occurring in patients receiving anti-programmed cell death-1 therapies
Dousset, Léa, Boniface, Katia and Seneschal, Julien (2019). Vitiligo-like lesions occurring in patients receiving anti-programmed cell death-1 therapies. Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia, 154 (4), 435-443. doi: 10.23736/S0392-0488.18.06254-5
2019
Journal Article
Response to: 'Checkpoint inhibitor-induced polymyalgia rheumatica controlled by cobimetinib, a MEK 1/2 inhibitor' by Chan and Bass
Kostine, Marie, Dousset, Léa and Schaeverbeke, Thierry (2019). Response to: 'Checkpoint inhibitor-induced polymyalgia rheumatica controlled by cobimetinib, a MEK 1/2 inhibitor' by Chan and Bass. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 78 (7) e71, 1-1. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-213682
2019
Conference Publication
COMMONLY USED DRUGS IN RHEUMATOLOGY MAY ALTER ANTI-TUMORAL RESPONSE TO IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS
Kostine, Marie, Mauric, Eleonora, Barnetche, Thomas, Rouxel, Lea, Dutriaux, Caroline, Dousset, Lea, Prey, Sorilla, Beylot-Barry, Marie, Seneschal, Julien, Veillon, Remi, Vergnenegre, Charlotte, Daste, Amaury, Domblides, Charlotte, Sionneau, Baptiste, Gross-Goupil, Marine, Ravaud, Alain, Forcade, Edouard, Bannwarth, Bernard, Truchetet, Marie-Elise, Richez, Christophe, Mehsen-Cetre, Nadia and Schaeverbeke, Thierry (2019). COMMONLY USED DRUGS IN RHEUMATOLOGY MAY ALTER ANTI-TUMORAL RESPONSE TO IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITORS. Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR), Madrid Spain, Jun 12-15, 2019. LONDON: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-eular.7470
2019
Journal Article
Long-lasting cutaneous tuberculosis owing to Mycobacterium bovis masquerading as sarcoidosis
Dequidt, Laure, Dousset, Léa, Pham-Ledard, Anne, Doutre, Marie-Sylvie and Beylot-Barry, Marie (2019). Long-lasting cutaneous tuberculosis owing to Mycobacterium bovis masquerading as sarcoidosis. JAAD Case Reports, 5 (1), 1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jdcr.2018.07.020
2018
Journal Article
Skins cancers Les cancers cutanés
Dousset, Léa (2018). Skins cancers Les cancers cutanés. Actualites Pharmaceutiques, 57 (581), 24-26. doi: 10.1016/j.actpha.2018.10.005
2018
Journal Article
Energy Metabolism Rewiring Precedes UVB-Induced Primary Skin Tumor Formation
Hosseini, Mohsen, Dousset, Léa, Mahfouf, Walid, Serrano-Sanchez, Martin, Redonnet-Vernhet, Isabelle, Mesli, Samir, Kasraian, Zeinab, Obre, Emilie, Bonneu, Marc, Claverol, Stephane, Vlaski, Marija, Ivanovic, Zoran, Rachidi, Walid, Douki, Thierry, Taieb, Alain, Bouzier-Sore, Anne-Karine, Rossignol, Rodrigue and Rezvani, Hamid Reza (2018). Energy Metabolism Rewiring Precedes UVB-Induced Primary Skin Tumor Formation. Cell Reports, 23 (12), 3621-3634. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.05.060
2018
Journal Article
Rheumatic disorders associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with cancer - Clinical aspects and relationship with tumour response: A single-centre prospective cohort study
Kostine, Marie, Rouxel, Leá, Barnetche, Thomas, Veillon, Rémi, Martin, Florent, Dutriaux, Caroline, Dousset, Leá, Pham-Ledard, Anne, Prey, Sorilla, Beylot-Barry, Marie, Daste, Amaury, Gross-Goupil, Marine, Lallier, Julie, Ravaud, Alain, Forcade, Edouard, Bannwarth, Bernard, Truchetet, Marie-Elise, Richez, Christophe, Mehsen, Nadia and Schaeverbeke, Thierry (2018). Rheumatic disorders associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with cancer - Clinical aspects and relationship with tumour response: A single-centre prospective cohort study. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 77 (3), 393-398. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212257
2017
Journal Article
Treatment of Hailey-Hailey disease with botulinic toxin: A retrospective study of 8 cases Traitement de la maladie de Hailey-Hailey par toxine botulique : étude rétrospective de huit cas
Dousset, L., Pham-Ledard, A., Doutre, M. S., Beylot-Barry, M. and Cogrel, O. (2017). Treatment of Hailey-Hailey disease with botulinic toxin: A retrospective study of 8 cases Traitement de la maladie de Hailey-Hailey par toxine botulique : étude rétrospective de huit cas. Annales de Dermatologie et de Venereologie, 144 (10), 599-606. doi: 10.1016/j.annder.2017.05.014
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Lea Dousset is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the impact of social determinants of health on skin cancer outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani
Media
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