IgG4 subclass antibodies impair antitumor immunity in melanoma.

Host-induced antibodies and their contributions to cancer inflammation are largely unexplored. IgG4 subclass antibodies are present in IL-10-driven Th2 immune responses in some inflammatory conditions. Since Th2-biased inflammation is a hallmark of tumor microenvironments, we investigated the presence and functional implications of IgG4 in malignant melanoma.

The role of positron emission tomography with computed tomography in the follow-up of asymptomatic cutaneous malignant melanoma patients with a high risk of disease recurrence.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of [F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) as a surveillance tool in asymptomatic patients with primary cutaneous melanoma with the American Joint Committee on Cancer stage 3 disease. Thirty-four patients with primary cutaneous malignant melanoma with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage 3 disease, who underwent at least one annual surveillance PET/CT scan, were retrospectively identified from our PET Centre Database in May 2008 and their characteristics, PET/CT results and disease course were reviewed. In 20 patients with microscopic stage 3 disease at diagnosis, annual surveillance PET/CT detected two of three recurrences and detected one incidental breast carcinoma.

Monitoring the systemic human memory B cell compartment of melanoma patients for anti-tumor IgG antibodies.

Melanoma, a potentially lethal skin cancer, is widely thought to be immunogenic in nature. While there has been much focus on T cell-mediated immune responses, limited knowledge exists on the role of mature B cells. We describe an approach, including a cell-based ELISA, to evaluate mature IgG antibody responses to melanoma from human peripheral blood B cells.

Clinical guidelines for the recognition of melanoma of the foot and nail unit.

Malignant melanoma is a life threatening skin tumour which may arise on the foot. The prognosis for the condition is good when lesions are diagnosed and treated early. However, lesions arising on the soles and within the nail unit can be difficult to recognise leading to delays in diagnosis.

Sentinel node positive melanoma patients: prediction and prognostic significance of nonsentinel node metastases and development of a survival tree model.

Background: Completion lymph node dissection (CLND) following positive sentinel node biopsy (SNB) for melanoma detects additional nonsentinel node (NSN) metastases in approximately 20% of cases. This study aimed to establish whether NSN status can be predicted, to determine its effect on survival, and to develop survival tree models for the sentinel node (SN) positive population.

Materials And Methods: Sydney Melanoma Unit (SMU) patients with at least 1 positive SN, meeting inclusion criteria and treated between October 1992 and June 2005, were identified from the Unit database.

Cutaneous malignant melanoma arising in an acquired naevus of Ota.

Naevus of Ota is a dermal melanocytosis most commonly found in black or Asian skin and is usually a benign malformation, but with a low risk of melanoma. We describe a 32-year-old Caucasian man with an acquired naevus of Ota with subtle pigmentation, in which a melanocytic papule developed. The lesion, deceptively, had no clinically suspicious features, but investigation revealed an aggressive cutaneous malignant melanoma, extensive orbital ring melanocytosis and metastatic brain and subsequent liver disease.

Predictors of patient satisfaction with initial diagnosis and management of malignant melanoma.

Background: Malignant melanoma (MM), accounts for around 10% of skin cancers. To date, there have been few data on patient satisfaction with initial management of MM.

Objective: To identify the predictors of patient satisfaction with initial diagnosis and management of MM.

Informational needs of patients with melanoma and their views on the utility of investigative tests.

Background: The aim of the study was to identify the informational needs of patients with melanoma on disease status and prognosis, and to ascertain their views on the utility of positron emission tomography (PET) and sentinel node biopsy (SNB).

Patients And Methods: Patients attending the weekly melanoma outpatient clinic at St Thomas' Hospital London UK between February and August 2007 participated in this cross-sectional survey. Views of 106 melanoma patients were elicited using a face-to face semi-structured questionnaire.

Acral lentiginous melanoma of the foot and ankle: A case series and review of the literature.

Background: Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is an uncommon, cutaneous malignant tumour which may arise on the foot. Its relative rarity, atypical appearance and late presentation frequently serve as poor prognostic indicators.

Methods: At a tertiary skin tumour centre, a retrospective review was undertaken of all patients diagnosed with the tumour at the level of ankle or below.

Routine positron emission tomography and positron emission tomography/computed tomography in melanoma staging with positive sentinel node biopsy is of limited benefit.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is increasingly used for the staging and management of melanoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of PET or PET/ computed tomography (CT) as a routine procedure in patients with positive sentinel node biopsy (SNB). Thirty patients with melanoma of Breslow thickness greater than 1 mm who had PET or PET/CT scans performed within 100 days after a positive SNB were reviewed retrospectively.

Assessing response to chemotherapy in metastatic melanoma with FDG PET: Early experience.

Objective: The management of metastatic melanoma remains challenging with only modest response rates to chemotherapy but the need to identify the best re-staging techniques remains paramount. This study evaluates our early experience in the use of FDG PET-CT in the assessment of early response to chemotherapy in metastatic melanoma.

Methods: FDG PET-CT was performed at baseline and following two or three cycles of combination or single agent chemotherapy in seven patients.

Does deprivation of area of residence influence the incidence, tumour site or T stage of cutaneous malignant melanoma? A population-based and clinical database study.

This study aimed to document the incidence of malignant melanoma at specific subsites in men and women, stratified by deprivation of area of residence in southeast England, and to explore the association between deprivation and tumour thickness at diagnosis. Data were extracted on 6468 cases from the Thames Cancer Registry for the years 1998 to 2002, and data on, and 508 cases were extracted from the clinical database of the Skin Tumour Unit, St Thomas' Hospital, for the years 1996 to 2004. The postcode of residence was used to assign quintiles of deprivation based on the income domain stated in the Indices of Deprivation 2000.

Cutaneous malignant melanoma in association with mycosis fungoides.

We retrospectively analyzed the first 461 cases entered into our cutaneous lymphoma database and found 285 cases of mycosis fungoides. We also identified 6 cases of malignant melanoma, all of which were found in patients with mycosis fungoides. The crude rate of melanoma in the general population in England, United Kingdom, in 1998 was 8.