Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Front Oncol 2022 23;12:846278. Epub 2022 May 23.

Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.

Background: The recent addition of immunotherapy as a treatment modality to surgery and radiation has vastly improved disease control for patients with keratinocyte-derived carcinomas (KCs) that are incurable with local therapies alone. With the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPis) in non-melanoma skin cancers comes diagnostic and therapeutic challenges when considering treatment strategies for patients presenting with clinical perineural invasion (cPNI) of locally advanced KC of the head and neck.

Objectives: We report four cases that convey the diagnostic and therapeutic complexity of managing patients with neuropathic symptoms from cutaneous neurotropic carcinomas of the head and neck. Read More

Cutis 2022 Mar;109(3):E21-E28

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Dr. Prince is from the Department of Otolaryngology, Dr. P.W. Harms is from the Department of Pathology, Dr. K.L. Harms is from the Department of Dermatology, and Dr. Kozlow is from the Section of Plastic Surgery.

This study sought to evaluate a cohort of patients with verrucous carcinoma of the foot with special focus on 5 cases of locally recurrent tumors despite negative margins. Nineteen cases of verrucous carcinoma of the foot were identified through the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan) pathology database from 1995 to 2019 and were included in demographic and clinical presentation analyses. Sixteen cases were treated at the University of Michigan and are included in the treatment analyses. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2022 Jun 1;15(6). Epub 2022 Jun 1.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmo, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden.

A Caucasian female patient in her 90s was referred to the department of plastic and reconstructive surgery for surgical removal of a large invasive squamous cell carcinoma on the anterior chest wall. A skin biopsy prior to the referral indicated that the tumour was moderately differentiated. The patient suffered from severe congestive heart failure with a mechanical valve prosthesis and atrial fibrillation, and was therefore treated with anticoagulants. Read More

Pathol Res Pract 2022 Jul 11;235:153940. Epub 2022 May 11.

Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Pathology Section, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy. Electronic address:

Introduction: A crescent number of reports describe malignant dermal malignancies presenting as diabetic ulcers, such as melanoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma and cutaneous lymphoma.

Methods: The authors reported the clinical and histopathological features of this challenging case of a PCBCL, leg type presenting as a foot ulcer to exemplify the diagnostic difficulties, mainly when, at the onset, this tumour exhibits uncharacteristic features.

Case Report: A 43 years-old male with a 10-year history of compensated type I diabetes developed an ulcerated 3 cm of diameter tumour on the lateral region of the right foot. Read More

Math Biosci Eng 2022 Apr;19(6):5905-5924

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.

Background: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most frequent types of cutaneous cancer. The composition and heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment significantly impact patient prognosis and the ability to practice precision therapy. However, no research has been conducted to examine the design of the tumor microenvironment and its interactions with cSCC. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2022 May 17;15(5). Epub 2022 May 17.

Otorhinolaryngology & Head-Neck Surgery & Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.

Non-melanoma skin cancers of the head and neck region require optimal management encompassing oncological safety, minimal functional and cosmetic morbidity. The eyelid reconstruction poses a reconstructive challenge as it should include both anatomical and functional integrity. Full-thickness eyelid defects post resection can be managed with chondrocutaneous grafts. Read More

Arch Craniofac Surg 2022 Apr 20;23(2):77-82. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Daegu Fatima Hospital, Daegu, Korea.

Sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma (SSCC), a biphasic malignant tumor consisting of atypical squamous epithelial and mesenchymal elements mixed with epithelioid and spindle cells, is a variant of squamous cell carcinoma. Cutaneous SSCC is very rare and aggressive and has a poor prognosis. Here, we report a case of cutaneous SSCC with satellites and in-transit metastases. Read More

In Vivo 2022 May-Jun;36(3):1245-1251

Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland;

Background/aim: Minichromosome maintenance protein 2 (MCM2) can be considered an indicator of cancer clinical outcome. In this study, we tried to estimate the usefulness of assessing MCM2 protein expression in actinic keratosis (AK) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).

Materials And Methods: The study included 22 lesions of AK, 57 of cSCC and 17 tissue samples of the healthy skin. Read More

Zhonghua Shao Shang Za Zhi 2022 Apr;38(4):341-346

Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Xi'an 710038, China.

To explore the clinical effects of three-dimensional printed preformed titanium mesh combined with latissimus dorsi muscle flap free transplantation in the treatment of wounds with skull defect after radical surgery of squamous cell carcinoma in the vertex. A retrospective observational study was conducted. From January 2010 to December 2019, 5 patients with squamous cell carcinoma in the vertex accompanied with skull invasion who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, including four males and one female, aged 50 to 65 years. Read More

Cells 2022 04 17;11(8). Epub 2022 Apr 17.

Section of Pathology, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of rare congenital diseases caused by mutations in structural proteins of the dermal/epidermal junction that are characterized by extreme epithelial fragility, which determines the formation of bullae and erosions either spontaneously or after local mechanical traumas. In EB patients, skin fragility leads to many possible complications and comorbidities. One of the most feared complications is the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) that particularly in the dystrophic recessive EB subtype can be extremely aggressive and often metastatic. Read More

J Exp Med 2022 06 7;219(6). Epub 2022 Apr 7.

Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.

Increasing evidence suggests that intratumoral inflammation has an outsized influence on antitumor immunity. Here, we report that IL-17, a proinflammatory cytokine widely associated with poor prognosis in solid tumors, drives the therapeutic failure of anti-PD-L1. By timing the deletion of IL-17 signaling specifically in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in late-stage tumors, we show that IL-17 signaling drives immune exclusion by activating a collagen deposition program in murine models of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Read More

J Dermatol Sci 2022 04 15;106(1):61-64. Epub 2022 Mar 15.

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

Exp Dermatol 2022 05 16;31(5):689-699. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Department of Plastic-, Reconstructive- and Hand Surgery, Utrecht University Medical Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that mostly affects the genital and anal skin areas. Symptoms may vary from pruritis and pain to sexual dysfunction; however, LS can also be asymptomatic. LS occurs at all ages and in both sexes. Read More

Ann Plast Surg 2022 03;88(1s Suppl 1):S106-S109

From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

Background: Extensive nasal defects after resection of a malignancy are a challenge for all plastic surgeons. Nasal composite tissue defects have to be reconstructed with multiple staging surgeries. A paramedian pedicled forehead flap and free tissue transfer can be used for lining and skin replacement at different stages. Read More

JAMA Dermatol 2022 04;158(4):390-394

Department of Radiation Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.

Importance: Unlike Merkel cell carcinoma and melanoma, satellitosis or in-transit metastasis (S-ITM) is not incorporated into the current cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) staging systems. It is important to determine if the clinical outcomes of S-ITM are relevant to prognosis for patients with CSCC.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of S-ITM with clinical outcomes in patients with CSCC and to determine its prognostic implications. Read More

Arch Plast Surg 2022 Jan 15;49(1):39-42. Epub 2022 Jan 15.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.

Bilateral pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) flaps are commonly used to reconstruct large chest wall defects. We report a case of large chest wall defect reconstruction using bilateral PMMC flaps augmented with axillary V-Y advancement rotation flaps for additional flap advancement. A 74-year-old male patient was operated on for recurrent glottic squamous cell carcinoma. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2022 06 3;36(6):e460-e464. Epub 2022 Feb 3.

Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.

Medicina (Kaunas) 2022 Jan 12;58(1). Epub 2022 Jan 12.

Department of Specialized Surgeries, Graduated School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 1138519, Japan.

In the treatment of the special type of breast cancer (STBC), the choice of chemotherapeutic agents is often based on the characteristic features of the histological type. On the other hand, the surgical strategy is usually determined by the tumor size and presence of lymph node metastasis, and the indication for immediate reconstruction is rarely discussed based on the histological type. The prognoses of STBC and invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast (IDC) patients who underwent subcutaneous mastectomy (SCM) with immediate reconstruction at our institution were compared. Read More

Arch Craniofac Surg 2022 Feb 10;23(1):17-22. Epub 2022 Jan 10.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.

Background: Reconstruction of large facial defects is challenging as both functional and cosmetic results must be considered. Reconstruction with forehead flaps on the face is advantageous; nonetheless, reconstruction of large defects with forehead flaps alone results in extensive scarring on the donor site. In our study, the results of reconstruction using a combination of forehead flaps and other techniques for large facial defects were evaluated. Read More

In Vivo 2022 Jan-Feb;36(1):251-257

Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A.;

Background/aim: It is estimated that nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), affects more than 3 million Americans each year. Translation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data into identification of new potential targets for therapeutic applications may be helpful. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) is a widely used NGS method that involves sequencing the protein-coding regions of the genome. Read More

Acta Med Okayama 2021 Dec;75(6):725-734

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The long-term changes in tissues implanted in the oral cavity and pharynx after head and neck reconstruction have not been fully evaluated. This study aimed to clarify the morphological changes, long-term durability, and potential for secondary carcinogenesis in such tissues. In our single-center study, the rough morphological changes in 54 cases of intraoral and pharyngeal skin and mucosal flaps were evaluated more than 10 years after flap transfer. Read More

World J Surg Oncol 2021 Dec 24;19(1):350. Epub 2021 Dec 24.

Department of Plastic Surgery, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Leoforos St. Niarchou, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.

Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic led to a 2-month lockdown in Europe. Elective surgeries, including skin cancer excisions, were postponed. The purpose of this prospective case-control study was to assess the impact of the treatment delay on patients with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) or melanoma operated in the first post-lockdown period. Read More

Australas J Dermatol 2022 Feb 20;63(1):e90-e91. Epub 2021 Dec 20.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Eur J Dermatol 2021 Dec;31(6):759-770

Plastic and reconstructive surgery Burn Unit, Percy military Hospital, Clamart, France.

The advent of tissue engineering and the clinical applications with cultured epidermal autograft (CEA) have improved the prognosis of severely burned patients. Marjolin ulcers (MUs) are a well-known complication of burns. These malignant neoplasm transformations of burn scars are usually squamous cell carcinomas with a higher incidence of regional metastases. Read More

Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2022 Apr 1;22(2):229-237. Epub 2022 Apr 1.

Department of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China.

The incidence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) has been increasing in recent years. Meanwhile, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to play vital roles in various cancers, including cSCC. This study aimed to investigate the expression of microRNA-573 (miR-573) in cSCC, its relationship with long non-coding RNA PICSAR and analyze its biological role. Read More

Bioengineered 2021 12;12(2):9930-9938

Department of Dermatology,Jinhua Fifth Hospital, JinHua, ZheJiang,China.

The aim of this study is to explore the role of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), Bowen's disease (BD), and actinic keratosis (AK) with squamous cell differentiation abnormality and its relationship with the degree of tumor proliferation. Thirty cases of clinical paraffin specimens of CSCC, BD, and AK were each collected from Jinhua Fifth Hospital, while 30 cases of normal skin specimens surgically resected in Department of Plastic Surgery were selected as controls. The expressions of mTOR and Ki-67 in tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2022 Jan;36 Suppl 1:74-76

Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.

Keratoacanthoma (KA) and well-differentiated cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) are hardly distinguishable clinically and histologically. They both can be seen in patients with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) or Lynch Syndrome, corresponding to DNA microsatellite instability. In our case, a young man had the excision of two rapidly growing skin tumours for which distinction between KA and cSCC was initially clinically and pathologically challenging. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2022 Jan;36 Suppl 1:53-58

Department of Dermatology, Hôpital Erasme-ULB, Brussels, Belgium.

It is well known that organ transplant recipients are prone to develop non-melanoma skin cancers, particularly cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). This is explained by the long-term use of immunosuppressants and thus the decrease of the immunosurveillance that protects from developing malignant tumours. Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are 65-250 times more likely to develop cSCC compared to the general population (Am J Transplant 2017; 17: 2509). Read More

J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2022 02 7;75(2):722-729. Epub 2021 Oct 7.

St Andrew's Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford CM1 7ET, UK; School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine & Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford CM1 1SQ, UK; St Andrew's Anglia Ruskin (StAAR) Research Group, Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine & Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University, Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford CM1 1SQ, UK. Electronic address:

Background: A cohort study of patients, who underwent cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) excision, was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment times and histopathological features.

Methods: We identified all patients who had SCCs excised in October 2020 (pandemic group); the control group included all patients who underwent excision of SCCs during October 2019 (pre-pandemic group). Collected data included SCC subtype, thickness, size, clearance margins, referral details, patient comorbidities and operative data. Read More

Dermatol Surg 2021 12;47(12):1660-1661

Department of Dermatology and Mohs Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.