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Nihon Hinyokika Gakkai Zasshi 2018 ;109(2):111-115

Department of Urology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital.

We report a case of primary malignant melanoma (MM) of the female urethra. A 60-year-old female complained bleeding from the urethral meatus. MRI revealed a mass of 20 mm at the external urethral meatus. Read More

PLoS One 2019 22;14(4):e0215379. Epub 2019 Apr 22.

Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany.

Non-melanoma-skin cancer is an emerging clinical problem in the elderly, fair skinned population which predominantly affects patients aged older than 70 years. Its steady increase in incidence rates and morbidity is paralleled by related medical costs. Despite the fact that many elderly patients are in need of care and are living in nursing homes, specific data on the prevalence of skin cancer in home care and the institutional long-term care setting is currently lacking. Read More

Am J Dermatopathol 2019 May;41(5):321-342

Research Unit Dermatopathology, Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.

Despite new horizons opened by recent advances in molecular pathology, histological evaluation still remains the diagnostic gold standard regarding cutaneous melanocytic neoplasms. Several histological variants of melanoma have been described, and their knowledge is crucial for accurate diagnosis and classification of cases with unusual clinico-pathological features. Uncommon histological variants of melanoma have been described based on a broad constellation of features, including architectural pattern, stromal alterations, cytological attributes, and other morphological properties. Read More

Oncol Lett 2019 May 25;17(5):4188-4196. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Dermatology Research Laboratory, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania.

SK-MEL-5 is a human melanoma cell line that has been used in various studies to explore new therapies against melanoma in different experiments. Based on this study we report on the development of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models able to predict the cytotoxic effect of diverse chemical compounds on this cancer cell line. The dataset of cytotoxic and inactive compounds were downloaded from the PubChem database. Read More

Neuroradiology 2019 Apr 18. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of false-positive meningeal contrast enhancement in patients with solid tumors who were undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods: A total of 2572 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of the brain were retrospectively evaluated by two readers for the presence of pathological meningeal contrast enhancement conspicuous for neoplastic meningitis. These patients either had malignant melanoma, breast or lung cancer, or lymphoma. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2019 Apr 18;25:2852-2858. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

Department of Dermatology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND We examined the anticancer potential of anthecotulide against SK-MEL-24 malignant melanoma cells. The apoptotic and autophagic effects of anthecotulide were also investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS The cell viability of SK-MEL-24 human malignant melanoma cells was evaluated by WST-1 assay. Read More

Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2019 Apr 16:e13043. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Navarra Public Health Institute - IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain.

Population-based cancer registry data from three Spanish areas were used to assess the patterns of care and adherence to guidelines for cutaneous malignant melanoma. We included 934 cases diagnosed in 2009-2013. Completeness of the pathology reports, imaging for detecting distant metastasis and the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) were analysed. Read More

Indian J Dermatol 2019 Mar-Apr;64(2):155-157

Department of Pathology, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Coexistence of two types of malignant neoplasms, called 'a collision tumor,' is relatively uncommon. Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are known to coexist with other cutaneous lesions, but the collision of BCC with malignant melanoma is rare. We report a rare case of BCC with underlying lentigo maligna melanoma, focusing on dermoscopic and reflectance confocal microscopic (RCM) findings and their correlation with histopathology. Read More

Cancer Immunol Immunother 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Cologne, Kerpener Strasse 62, 50937, Cologne, Germany.

Background: Pleomorphic dermal sarcomas (PDS) are sarcomas of the skin with local recurrences in up to 28% of cases, and distant metastases in up to 20%. Although recent evidence provides a strong rational to explore immunotherapeutics in solid tumors, nothing is known about the immune environment of PDS.

Methods: In the current study, a comprehensive immune-phenotyping of 14 PDS using RNA and protein expression analyses, as well as quantitative assessment of immune cells using an image-analysis tool was performed. Read More

Cancer Sci 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Medical Oncology/Hematology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Hyogo, Japan.

The immune checkpoint inhibitor, nivolumab, inhibits the programmed death 1 receptor and suppresses the immune resistance of cancer cells. This is a long-term follow-up of a single-arm, open-label, multicenter, phase II study of nivolumab in untreated Japanese patients with stage III/IV or recurrent melanoma. Additionally, a post-hoc subgroup analysis stratified by melanoma types was performed. Read More

Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Biopathology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France.

A girl, born with a posterior  lumbosacral giant congenital nevus, developed a central nodule that expanded over a period of 14 months into a 10-cm pedunculated mass. Histological analysis of the mass revealed melanoma of myxoid, small round-cell type with areas of  rhabdomyosarcomatous  transformation confirmed by immunohistochemistry. RNA sequencing identified an in-frame SASS6(e14)-RAF1(e8) fusion in both components and the nevus. Read More

Oncol Lett 2019 May 14;17(5):4170-4175. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Dermatopharmacy and Cosmetology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, Romania.

Tumors of the central nervous system are the most prevalent complications of melanoma, especially in the late stage of disease. Melanoma, lung and breast cancer are the leading cause of secondary tumors in the brain, the majority of them having a poor outcome. Brain dissemination is developed in half of stage IV melanomas and these cases can increase up to 75%, having a major impact on the quality of life. Read More

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Dermatology, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszów, Poland.

For many years, the standard therapy for malignant melanoma was based mainly on surgical resection. Unfortunately, this treatment is curative only in the early localized stage of this malignancy. The metastatic stage of malignant melanoma still remains a huge therapeutic challenge. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2019 Mar 28;11(4). Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Immunology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (HCUVA), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica (IMIB), 30120 Murcia, Spain.

Background: Natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cells are involved in the immune response against melanoma. C-Type lectin-like NK cell receptors are located in the Natural Killer Complex (NKC) region 12p13.2-p12. Read More

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Radiation Therapy, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.

Background: The management of conjunctival melanoma is challenging and frequently ends in exenteration. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the long-term results of proton beam radiation with regard to various clinical parameters.

Methods: Eighty-nine patients with extended conjunctival melanoma (≥T2) and multifocal bulbar located tumors (T1c/d) were treated consecutively with proton radiotherapy (dose 45 Gy). Read More

J Dermatol 2019 Mar 25. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.

Cell Biol Toxicol 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Clinical Protein Science & Imaging, Biomedical Centre, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, BMC D13, 221 84, Lund, Sweden.

Melanoma of the skin is the sixth most common type of cancer in Europe and accounts for 3.4% of all diagnosed cancers. More alarming is the degree of recurrence that occurs with approximately 20% of patients lethally relapsing following treatment. Read More

Cureus 2019 Jan 9;11(1):e3859. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Oncology, Instituto Nacional De Cancerologia, Bogotá, COL.

Metastatic melanomas in the pediatric population are rare, but they have been appearing more frequently. Unfortunately, little is known about the differences in the biology and therapeutic implications of pediatric metastatic melanomas when compared to those found in adults. Herein, we have presented the case of a 13-year-old girl with a stage IIID malignant melanoma arising from a congenital nevus. Read More

Mol Cell Proteomics 2019 Mar 19. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Germany

Targeted inhibition of mutated kinases using selective MAP kinase inhibitors in malignant melanoma often results in temporary improvement of clinical symptoms followed by rapid development of resistance. To gain insights in molecular processes that govern resistance, we performed SILAC-based quantitative proteomics profiling of vemurafenib-resistant and -sensitive melanoma cells. Among down-regulated proteins in vemurafenib-resistant cell lines we detected multiple proteins involved in cytoskeletal organization and signaling, including the intermediate filament nestin, which was one of the most down-regulated proteins. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2019 Mar 13;11(3). Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45147, Germany.

Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive and treatment resistant type of skin cancer. It is characterized by continuously rising incidence and high mortality rate due to its high metastatic potential. Various types of cell adhesion molecules have been implicated in tumor progression in melanoma. Read More

Br J Biomed Sci 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

c Dermatopathology Department, St. John's Institute of Dermatology, St. Thomas' Hospital.

Background: The use of immunohistochemical (IHC) methods employing a monoclonal antibody BRAF V600E which detects the main BRAF mutation in metastatic malignant melanoma is assessed in 71 malignant melanoma patients and compared to DNA probe screening, in a blind trial.

Material And Methods: The respective paraffin blocks were cut with one Haematoxylin and Eosin staying technique (H&E) and one consecutive unstained slide. The unstained slide contained known positive micro array control material. Read More

Dermatol Online J 2019 Feb 15;25(2). Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.

Seborrheic keratosis is a benign condition that can mimic many different non-melanoma and melanoma neoplasms. There have been several case reports of underlying squamous cell carcinomas or intraepidermal carcinomas appearing within lesions that look analogous to seborrheic keratoses. We present a patient with a verrucous melanoma that could be mistaken for a benign skin tumor like an inflamed seborrheic keratosis. Read More

J Cancer 2019 29;10(5):1197-1208. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Dermatology, Jinan Central Hospital affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.

Melanoma is a malignant tumor of cutaneous melanocytes that is characterized by high grade malignancy, rapid progression and high mortality. Thus far, its specific etiological mechanism has been unclear. In this study, we discovered that Lyn kinase expression was up-regulated in melanoma tissues and cells. Read More

Curr Oncol 2019 Feb 1;26(1):e115-e118. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka City, Japan.

Nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, is now considered an important therapeutic agent in several advanced malignancies. However, immune-related adverse events such as endocrinopathies have been reported with its use. Thyroid disorder and isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency have frequently been reported as nivolumab-induced immune-related adverse events. Read More

PLoS One 2019 7;14(3):e0213475. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Malignant melanoma (MM) is a lethal skin cancer in Western countries. Although the incidence is low in Asians compared to that in Caucasians, it is increasing. However, literature regarding risk factors for prognosis of MM patients who have undergone surgical excision in Asian is limited. Read More

Cancer Med 2019 Mar 7. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Department of Plastic Surgery of Third Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China.

Growing evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs NORAD and miR-205 play a significant role in regulating cancer progression and metastasis. In this study, high expression of NORAD was firstly observed in melanoma tissues and human malignant melanoma cell lines, our aim was to study the interaction of them in the process of invasion and migration of malignant melanoma cells. NORAD, miR-205, and EGLN2 mRNA level in MM cells was detected by qRT-PCR. Read More

Eur J Pharmacol 2019 May 2;851:174-185. Epub 2019 Mar 2.

Hospital for Skin Disease, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, PR China. Electronic address:

Malignant melanoma was the leading cause of mortality among the skin-associated cancer owing to its highly metastatic feature, increasing incidence and drug resistance requirement. Retinoids played important roles in the treatment of cancer via the activation of retinoid acid receptor (RAR) or retinoid X receptor (RXR). Our present study showed that the third-generation retinoid adapalene exhibited strong inhibitory effects on the proliferation of melanoma cells than other retinoids, such as all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), isotretinoin, acitretin and bexarotene, and adapalene exerted significant inhibitory effects on the colony formation of melanoma cells. Read More

Environ Int 2019 May 27;126:298-301. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Dermatology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xian Jiaotong University, 710000, China. Electronic address:

Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) ranks the most lethal skin cancer worldwide. However, other risk factors have been hardly explored, aside from ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were implied to be potential risk factors for CMM, although all the evidence was obtained from the western countries. Read More

SAGE Open Med Case Rep 2019 18;7:2050313X19829630. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Division of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.

Atypical Spitzoid lesions pose a distinct challenge in classification as they may comprise a mixture of both classic benign nevus and cutaneous melanoma characteristics. Immunostaining and molecular analysis, such as comparative genomic hybridization, can assist in narrowing the differential diagnosis. We present a case of a 5-year-old male with an atypical Spitzoid lesion on his back. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2019 Mar;33 Suppl 2:34-45

Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.

Background: Malignant melanoma is accounting for the vast majority of skin cancer death. The treatment and productivity loss due to morbidity or premature mortality are associated with costs for society. There are few cost-of-illness (COI) studies on malignant melanoma in European countries from societal perspective and currently there is no publication analysing the COI in all European countries. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2019 Mar;33 Suppl 2:46-56

Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.

Background: Melanoma is a life-threatening disease of the skin with an increasing incidence of approximately 87 000 new cases treated per year in the European Union and the European Free Trade Association states resulting in considerable costs for the society. Since the use of sunbeds is known to be a risk factor, which can be easily avoided, costs of malignant melanoma attributable to sunbed use are modelled in the present study.

Methods: Costs-of-illness of melanoma were calculated and compared for all member states of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association states using an established modelling approach. Read More

Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2019 May 26;83(5):881-892. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Institut de Cancérologie Lucien Neuwirth, 108 bis Avenue Albert Raimond, BP 60008, 42271, St Priest en Jarez cedex, France.

Purpose: To assess the safety of the association of radiotherapy (RT) and systemic treatments for patients with metastatic malignant melanoma (mMM).

Methods: A retrospective analysis included consecutive patients treated with palliative RT, and at least one line of systemic therapy for mMM between 2001 and 2016. Treatments were defined as sequential or concomitant when RT and the systemic drug were administered, respectively, at more or less than five half-lives from each other. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Feb 25;12(2). Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Medical Oncology, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Portsmouth, UK.

A 46-year-old man presented with a 4-week history of bruising with subcutaneous nodules and weight loss. He also had a 2-week history of progressive back and hip pain. He had been diagnosed with stage Ib cutaneous melanoma 30 months previously, which had been fully excised. Read More

Melanoma Res 2019 04;29(2):187-195

Dermatology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel.

The aim was to evaluate toxicity and oncological outcome of combined stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and immunotherapy or targeted therapy in patients with multiple brain metastases originating from malignant melanoma. Despite the fact that both SRS and kinase inhibitors or immune checkpoint inhibitors are considered standard treatment options for this indication, the optimal combination and sequence of these modalities remains largely unknown, especially for patients with a high number of brain metastases. For this retrospective analysis, conducted in two large SRS dedicated centers, we identified patients with brain metastases from malignant melanoma and simultaneous application of immunotherapy or targeted therapy within 30 days of SRS. Read More

Br J Dermatol 2019 Feb 22. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Department of Dermatology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-Ku, Hamamatsu, 431-3192, Japan.

Dermoscopy is an optical technique, which enables us to observe the fine structures especially in melanocytic skin lesions. In the dermoscopic structures of melanocytic lesions, including nevocellular nevus and melanoma, 1) pigment network, 2) dots and globules, and 3) streaks are main components. The irregularity of these structures helps us differentiate benign nevi from malignant melanoma. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2019 Mar 22;36(2):219-222. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, Colorado.

Background: Melanoma is a rare diagnosis in the pediatric population. Differences in incidence, presentation, and survival distinguish pediatric melanoma from adult melanoma. In order to improve our understanding of pediatric melanoma, our case series investigates differences in incidence, age of onset, and anatomic site between male and female pediatric melanoma patients in Colorado between 1988 and 2015. Read More

Case Rep Dermatol 2019 Jan-Apr;11(1):1-6. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Department of Dermatology, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Harlow, United Kingdom.

Surgical excision represents the primary treatment for malignant melanoma. On occasion, however, surgery may not be possible, and a different approach is required. Imiquimod is a Toll-like receptor 7 agonist involved in the activation of the innate immune system. Read More

Histopathology 2019 Feb 21. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.

Aims: Melanocytic nevi are benign lesions of the skin or mucosa, which may constitute non-obligate precursors of malignant melanoma, particularly when displaying lentiginous and dysplastic features. Here we sought to interrogate the repertoire of somatic genetic alterations in melanocytic nevi.

Methods And Results: DNA extracted from 12 melanocytic nevi and matching normal tissue were separately microdissected and subjected to targeted massively parallel sequencing targeting ≥300 cancer genes. Read More

BMC Endocr Disord 2019 Feb 19;19(1):25. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Internal Medicine 1, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, 89-1, Enya-cho, Izumo, Shimane, 693-8501, Japan.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors including nivolumab, an anti-programmed cell death protein 1 antibody, are recently developed cancer immunotherapy agents. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are known to cause autoimmune-related side effects including endocrine dysfunctions. However, there are few reports on late-onset isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency caused by nivolumab. Read More

Cells 2019 Feb 18;8(2). Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Department of Dermatology and The Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8059, USA.

According to estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, by the year 2030 there will be 22 million new cancer cases and 13 million deaths per year. The main cause of cancer mortality is not the primary tumor itself but metastasis to distant organs and tissues, yet the mechanisms of this process remain poorly understood. Leukocyte⁻cancer cell fusion and hybrid formation as an initiator of metastasis was proposed more than a century ago by the German pathologist Prof. Read More

Cancer Res 2019 Apr 18;79(8):2021-2030. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.

The current gold standard for clinical diagnosis of melanoma is excisional biopsy and histopathologic analysis. Approximately 15-30 benign lesions are biopsied to diagnose each melanoma. In addition, biopsies are invasive and result in pain, anxiety, scarring, and disfigurement of patients, which can add additional burden to the health care system. Read More

Dermatol Pract Concept 2019 Jan 31;9(1):54-62. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Second Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.

Background: mutations are a common finding in malignant melanoma (MM). Nevertheless, apart from their significance as a therapeutic target in advanced melanoma, their prognostic value is still debated.

Objective: To assess mutation status in primary, recurrent, or metastatic MM and its correlations with histopathological findings. Read More

Jpn J Clin Oncol 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Background: Anti-programmed cell death protein 1 monoclonal antibodies (αPD-1mAbs) have been shown to be effective for advanced malignant melanoma. Treatment with αPD-1mAbs can also cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs). However, clinical predictive factors for treatment responses or irAE risk remain unclear. Read More

J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2019 Apr 15;72(4):685-710. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, Bari 70124, Italy.

Following the reading of the original article "Surgical-site infection following lymph node excision indicates susceptibility for lymphedema: A retrospective cohort study of malignant melanoma patients", the authors reviewed the literature for the discussed therapeutic value of complete lymph node dissection (CLND), the major complications and the current treatment for lymphedema. The authors also share their experience and protocol for CLND, and treating lymphedema using lymph node flap transfer and multiple lymphatic-venous anastomoses. Read More

Pediatr Blood Cancer 2019 Jun 7;66(6):e27648. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Pediatrics, Hematology-Oncology Section, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.

Background: Epidemiological knowledge and predictors of melanoma among children and adolescents in multiethnic populations are limited.

Procedure: Using data from the Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 13 database, we identified incident melanoma cases diagnosed at 0-20 years old during 1995-2013 in Texas and the United States, respectively. Using negative binomial regression, associations between demographic factors and melanoma incidence rates (IR) were evaluated by calculating incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Read More

Front Immunol 2019 22;10. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.

Robust anti-tumor immunity requires innate as well as adaptive immune responses. We have shown that plasmacytoid dendritic cells develop killer cell-like activity in melanoma cell cocultures after exposure to the infectious but replication-deficient herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) 106S. To combine this innate effect with an enhanced adaptive immune response, the gene encoding human MelanA/MART-1 was inserted into HSV-1 106S via homologous recombination to increase direct expression of this tumor antigen. Read More

Front Oncol 2018 21;8:675. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Related, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuo-ku, Japan.

DNA methylation is considered the primary epigenetic mechanism underlying the development of malignant melanoma. Since DNA methylation can be influenced by environmental factors, it is preferable to compare cancer and normal cells from the same patient. In order to compare the methylation status in melanoma tissues and melanocytes from the same individuals, we employed a novel epidermal sheet cultivation technique to isolate normal melanocytes from unaffected sites of melanoma patients. Read More

Trials 2019 Feb 4;20(1):99. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University-Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122, Essen, Germany.

Background: Melanoma has become a growing interdisciplinary problem in public health worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, the incidence of melanoma is increasing faster than any other cancer in the world. Because melanoma metastasizes early into the regional lymph nodes, sentinel lymph node excision (SLNE) is included in the current American Joint Committee of Cancer guidelines. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2019 Feb 1;11(2). Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, H-1085 Budapest, Hungary.

The incidence of malignant melanoma, one of the deadliest cancers, continues to increase. Here we tested connexin (Cx) expression in primary melanocytes, melanoma cell lines and in a common nevus, dysplastic nevus, and thin, thick, and metastatic melanoma tumor progression series involving the tumor microenvironment by utilizing in silico analysis, qRT-PCR, immunocyto-/histochemistry and dye transfer tests. Primary melanocytes expressed /Cx43, /Cx46 and low levels of /Cx26 and /Cx30. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2019 ;1929:691-700

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Malignant melanoma is a cancer with increasing incidence worldwide with relevant socioeconomic impact. Despite progress in prevention and early detection, it is one of the most lethal forms of skin cancer. Therefore it is urgent need to identify suitable biomarkers in order to improve early diagnosis, precise staging, and prognosis, as well as for therapy selection and monitoring. Read More