A retrospective single-institute study reveals a vertical gradient of the density of cutaneous melanoma from head to toe.

Background: The bodily distribution of melanoma is frequently reported without consideration of the skin surface area, which could be misleading in melanoma risk regarding anatomical sites.

Objectives: To gain insights into the melanoma distribution on the body surface when the body surface area is considered.

Methods: Cutaneous melanoma data were extracted from a single dermatopathology laboratory, and the relative density from each body site was calculated by taking into consideration the skin surface area.

Unsupervised Analysis Reveals the Involvement of Key Immune Response Genes and the Matrisome in Resistance to BRAF and MEK Inhibitors in Melanoma.

Melanoma tumors exhibit a wide range of heterogeneity in genomics even with shared mutations in the MAPK pathway, including mutations. Consistently, adaptive drug resistance to inhibitors and/or plus MEK inhibitors also exhibits a wide range of heterogeneous responses, which poses an obstacle for discovering common genes and pathways that can be used in clinic for overcoming drug resistance. This study objectively analyzed two sets of previously published tumor genomics data comparing pre-treated melanoma tumors and BRAFi- and/or MEKi-resistant tumors.

Distinctive lower incidence rates of cutaneous melanoma on the hips and lower extremities of men.

Background: Cutaneous melanomas (CMs) are more frequently found on the trunk in men, and on the hip and lower extremities (legs) in women. This discrepancy has been attributed to greater exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation of women's legs due to their dressing habits.

Objectives: To understand the sex difference in the bodily distribution of CMs, especially those on the legs.

Tumor Androgen Receptor Protein Level Is Positively Associated with a Better Overall Survival in Melanoma Patients.

Androgen receptor (AR) is expressed in numerous tissues and serves important biologic functions in skin, prostate, immune, cardiovascular, and neural systems, alongside sexual development. Several studies have associated AR expression and patient survival in various cancers, yet there are limited studies examining the relationship between AR expression and cutaneous melanoma. This study used genomics and proteomics data from The Cancer Proteome Atlas (TCPA) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), with 470 cutaneous melanoma patient data points.

Comparing maternal substance use and perinatal outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal substance abuse and neonatal outcomes.

Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study of neonates admitted to the NICU and born to mothers with evidence of substance abuse pre-pandemic compared to during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Result: We noted a significant increase in fentanyl (12% vs.