CP-GEP (Merlin) gene expression profiling: can my melanoma patient forgo sentinel lymph node biopsy?

Melanoma risk stratification is crucial for both patients and physicians. Patients want to understand what to expect after diagnosis, and physicians need to decide on an appropriate treatment plan. Traditionally, risk stratification has been based on Breslow thickness and sentinel lymph node (SLN) status.

Using the Merlin assay for reducing sentinel lymph node biopsy complications in melanoma: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The assessment of the sentinel lymph node is a cornerstone of melanoma staging. However, ~80% of sentinel lymph node biopsies (SLNB) are negative and nontherapeutic, and patients are unnecessarily exposed to surgery-related complications. Here, we gauged the potential of the Merlin assay to reduce SLNB-associated complications.

Clinicopathologic models predicting non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in cutaneous melanoma patients: Are they useful for patients with a single positive sentinel node?

Background And Objectives: Of clinically node-negative (cN0) cutaneous melanoma patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis, between 10% and 30% harbor additional metastases in non-sentinel lymph nodes (NSLNs). Approximately 80% of SLN-positive patients have a single positive SLN.

Methods: To assess whether state-of-the-art clinicopathologic models predicting NSLN metastasis had adequate performance, we studied a single-institution cohort of 143 patients with cN0 SLN-positive primary melanoma who underwent subsequent completion lymph node dissection.

Treatment of cradle cap in infants with a new cosmetic non-steroidal gel cream: Clinical, laboratory, and instrumental evaluation.

Background: Cradle cap is a benign and self-limiting variant of seborrheic dermatitis (SD) that can be distressing for parents.

Aims: To assess by clinical/laboratory/instrumental evaluation the efficacy/tolerability of a gel cream containing piroctone olamine (antifungal), biosaccharide gum-2 (antifungal), stearyl glycyrrhetinate (anti-inflammatory), and zinc l-pyrrolidone carboxylate (zinc-PCA) (antiseborrheic) in the treatment of mild/ moderate cradle cap.

Methods: In this prospective, open-label trial, 10 infants, with mild/moderate cradle cap enrolled at the Dermatology University Clinic of Catania (Italy) used the tested gel cream twice daily for 30 days.

Validation of CP-GEP (Merlin Assay) for predicting sentinel lymph node metastasis in primary cutaneous melanoma patients: A U.S. cohort study.

Background: Approximately 85% of melanoma patients who undergo a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) are node-negative. Melanoma incidence is highest in patients ≥65 years, but their SLNB positivity rate is lower than in younger patients. CP-GEP, a model combining clinicopathologic and gene expression variables, identifies primary cutaneous melanoma (CM) patients who may safely forgo SLNB due to their low risk for nodal metastasis.

Identification of stage I/IIA melanoma patients at high risk for disease relapse using a clinicopathologic and gene expression model.

Purpose: Patients with stage I/IIA cutaneous melanoma (CM) are currently not eligible for adjuvant therapies despite uncertainty in relapse risk. Here, we studied the ability of a recently developed model which combines clinicopathologic and gene expression variables (CP-GEP) to identify stage I/IIA melanoma patients who have a high risk for disease relapse.

Patients And Methods: Archival specimens from a cohort of 837 consecutive primary CMs were used for assessing the prognostic performance of CP-GEP.

Balloon cell nevus in children: Report of three cases of the scalp and review.

Balloon cell nevus (BCN) is a histopathological variant of cutaneous acquired melanocytic nevi characterized by junctional and/or dermal nests of large cells with a clear and foamy cytoplasm which has rarely been described in children. Three cases of BCN firstly reported on the scalp in two pediatric patients are presented along with a literature review. Dermoscopy is particularly indicated in those pigmented lesions showing a yellowish hue, in ruling out in real time those disorders that may clinically be similar such as xanthogranuloma and sebaceous nevus, and to suggest the diagnosis of BCN.

β3 integrin immunohistochemistry as a method to predict sentinel lymph node status in patients with primary cutaneous melanoma.

Background: Integrins are heterodimeric proteins composed of noncovalently linked ɑ and β subunits which are essential for a wide range of normal physiology and also play prominent roles in cancer. Here we tested whether integrin expression in diagnostic skin biopsies is associated with sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis.

Methods: We utilized a cohort of 854 consecutive patients with primary cutaneous melanoma to quantify the expression of β integrin subunits by reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR).

Model Combining Tumor Molecular and Clinicopathologic Risk Factors Predicts Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis in Primary Cutaneous Melanoma.

Purpose: More than 80% of patients who undergo sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy have no nodal metastasis. Here we describe a model that combines clinicopathologic and molecular variables to identify patients with thin and intermediate thickness melanomas who may forgo the SLN biopsy procedure due to their low risk of nodal metastasis.

Patients And Methods: Genes with functional roles in melanoma metastasis were discovered by analysis of next generation sequencing data and case control studies.

The role of integrins in melanoma: a review.

Integrins are the major family of cell adhesion receptors in humans and essential for a wide range of normal physiology, including formation and maintenance of tissue structure integrity, cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Integrins also play a prominent role in tumor growth and metastasis. Translational research has tried to define the contribution of integrins to the phenotypic aggressiveness of melanoma because such knowledge is clinically useful.

Dermatoscopy of Common Lesions in Pediatric Dermatology.

The use of dermatoscopy to assist in the diagnosis of a variety of proliferative, pigmentary, inflammatory, infectious, congenital, and genetic cutaneous and skin appendage disorders is constantly increasing, as it is effective, affordable, noninvasive, and quick to perform.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and enuresis: a study about effectiveness of treatment with methylphenidate or desmopressin in a pediatric population.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with methylphenidate or desmopressin (dDAVP) in patients with comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and enuresis.

Methods: We enrolled 103 patients affected by ADHD and 125 patients with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (NE). Data were collected between January 2014 and December 2015.

Beneficial therapeutic effects of vitamin C on recurrent respiratory tract infections in children: preliminary data.

Background: The aim of this study was to demonstrate whether supplementation of vitamin C has a beneficial effect in the prevention of recurrent respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children. Moreover, we evaluate the main risk factors that predispose to the development of this disease.

Methods: Sixty children have been enrolled in the study and randomized into two groups: the control group (G1 N.