In vivo visualization of mesoscopic anatomy of healthy and pathological lymph nodes using 7T MRI: a feasibility study.

Purpose: To evaluate whether inguinal lymph nodes (LNs) may be visualized in vivo using 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at high spatial resolution.

Materials And Methods: Twelve healthy controls and six patients with LN metastasis of melanoma were included. Examinations were performed using a 7T MRI and a transmit/receive loop coil.

Adenoviruses using the cancer marker EphA2 as a receptor in vitro and in vivo by genetic ligand insertion into different capsid scaffolds.

Adenoviral gene therapy and oncolysis would critically benefit from targeted cell entry by genetically modified capsids. This requires both the ablation of native adenovirus tropism and the identification of ligands that remain functional in virus context. Here, we establish cell type-specific entry of HAdV-5-based vectors by genetic ligand insertion into a chimeric fiber with shaft and knob domains of the short HAdV-41 fiber (Ad5T/41sSK).

Randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate on pain intensity and quality of life in head and neck cancer patients suffering from cetuximab-induced rhagades during radioimmunotherapy: the support trial.

Background: Cetuximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Skin reactions are the most common side effects of cetuximab. Rhagades of the tips of the fingers and toes, the heels and especially the interphalangeal joints are one of the most frightening and painful dermatological side effects that may develop from EGFR-inhibitor therapy.

Comparison of molecular abnormalities in vulvar and vaginal melanomas.

Malignant melanoma of the vulva and vagina is relatively uncommon and accounts for <5% of all melanomas in women. The aim of our study was to establish the biological properties and evaluate potential therapeutic targets in these tumors. We collected a series of 65 cases from three centers and re-evaluated the tumor tissue for predominant growth pattern (superficial spreading, nodular, and mucosal lentiginous) and tumor thickness.

Lecithin retinol acyltransferase as a potential prognostic marker for malignant melanoma.

Metabolism inside cells differs between cancer and normal cells. Because disturbance of vitamin A metabolism might be important, we investigated expression of the enzymes lecithin retinol acyltransferase (LRAT) and RPE65 by immunohistochemistry in melanoma metastases and melanocytic nevi. Semiquantitative evaluation of this expression revealed downregulated expression of RPE65 in malignant melanoma compared with benign melanocytic nevi (P < 0.

Radiopharmaceutical therapy of patients with metastasized melanoma with the melanin-binding benzamide 131I-BA52.

Unlabelled: The performance of cytotoxic drugs is defined by their selectivity of uptake and action in tumor tissue. Recent clinical responses achieved by treating metastatic malignant melanoma with therapeutic modalities based on gene expression profiling showed that malignant melanoma is amenable to systemic treatment. However, these responses are not persistent, and complementary targeted treatment strategies are required for malignant melanoma.

The genetic landscape of clinical resistance to RAF inhibition in metastatic melanoma.

Most patients with BRAF(V600)-mutant metastatic melanoma develop resistance to selective RAF kinase inhibitors. The spectrum of clinical genetic resistance mechanisms to RAF inhibitors and options for salvage therapy are incompletely understood. We performed whole-exome sequencing on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumors from 45 patients with BRAF(V600)-mutant metastatic melanoma who received vemurafenib or dabrafenib monotherapy.

Upstream mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway inhibition: MEK inhibitor followed by a BRAF inhibitor in advanced melanoma patients.

BRAF-mutant melanoma can be successfully treated by BRAF kinase inhibitors (BRAFi) and MEK kinase inhibitors (MEKi). However, the administration of BRAFi followed by MEKi did not generate promising response rate (RR). The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the time to progression (TTP) with a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway upstream inhibition strategy in BRAF mutated melanoma patients.

Malignant melanoma S3-guideline "diagnosis, therapy and follow-up of melanoma".

This first German evidence-based guideline for cutaneous melanoma was developed under the auspices of the German Dermatological Society (DDG) and the Dermatologic Cooperative Oncology Group (DeCOG) and funded by the German Guideline Program in Oncology. The recommendations are based on a systematic literature search, and on the consensus of 32 medical societies, working groups and patient representatives. This guideline contains recommendations concerning diagnosis, therapy and follow-up of melanoma.

Therapy response assessment in metastatic melanoma patients treated with a BRAF inhibitor: adapted Choi criteria can reflect early therapy response better than does RECIST.

Purpose: Targeted therapy can lead to considerable tumor reduction and may result initially in altered tissue at constant tumor size. In this setting, Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) can be inadequate for assessing early treatment response. Choi-criteria combine both size and density measurements.

Varicella-like cutaneous toxoplasmosis in a patient with aplastic anemia.

A 60-year-old patient with aplastic anemia presented with vesicular varicella-like skin lesions on her face, arms, legs, back, and abdomen. However, diagnosis for herpetic infection was negative. Findings of a skin biopsy led to a tentative histologic diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, and infection with Toxoplasma gondii was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and PCR.

Necrolytic migratory erythema in a patient with neuroendocrine carcinoma.

Necrolytic migratory erythema is an obligatory paraneoplastic syndrome. Here we describe a patient with a neuroendocrine tumor of probably pancreatic origin. She developed the typical skin lesions under chemotherapy with temozolomide and capecitabine.

Chemovirotherapy of malignant melanoma with a targeted and armed oncolytic measles virus.

Effective treatment modalities for advanced melanoma are desperately needed. An innovative approach is virotherapy, in which viruses are engineered to infect cancer cells, resulting in tumor cell lysis and an amplification effect by viral replication and spread. Ideally, tumor selectivity of these oncolytic viruses is already determined during viral cell binding and entry, which has not been reported for melanoma.

Escalating therapy of cutaneous side effects of EGFR inhibitors: experience of German reference centers.

Recommendations for the management of cutaneous adverse effects of inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are urgently needed. In this context an expert panel of German dermatologists recently proposed a 3-step management concept based on personal experience and a current literature consensus. While steps 1 and 2 addressed general and preventive measures, as well as the therapy that can be performed by the primary treating physician, here we address the management of challenging cases (step 3) that do not respond well to basic measures and should be referred to an experienced dermatologist.

Improved survival with MEK inhibition in BRAF-mutated melanoma.

Background: Activating mutations in serine-threonine protein kinase B-RAF (BRAF) are found in 50% of patients with advanced melanoma. Selective BRAF-inhibitor therapy improves survival, as compared with chemotherapy, but responses are often short-lived. In previous trials, MEK inhibition appeared to be promising in this population.

Psychosomatic or allergic symptoms? High levels for somatization in patients with drug intolerance.

Patients with dermatological diseases often have associated psychological problems. For patients with allergic diseases, only a few publications have focused on psychological aspects. The objective of this study was to assess the psychometric profile, including somatization, depression, anxiety and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), of patients suffering from drug intolerance or hymenoptera venom allergies.

Promising results from a pilot study on compression treatment of ear keloids.

Background: Ear keloids continue to be a therapeutic challenge.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical success of a modified "oyster splint technique."

Methods: Ten patients with an ear keloid agreed to receive the compression therapy.

Phenol chemical matricectomy is less painful, with shorter recovery times but higher recurrence rates, than surgical matricectomy: a patient's view.

Background: Ingrown toenails have a tendency for recurrence. Operative interventions can be successful, and several procedures are in use.

Objective: Retrospective evaluation, to reveal differences in postoperative pain, time to recovery, and satisfaction with the cosmetic outcome in patients treated with a phenol (PCM) or surgical matricectomy (SM).

Improved survival with ipilimumab in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Background: An improvement in overall survival among patients with metastatic melanoma has been an elusive goal. In this phase 3 study, ipilimumab--which blocks cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 to potentiate an antitumor T-cell response--administered with or without a glycoprotein 100 (gp100) peptide vaccine was compared with gp100 alone in patients with previously treated metastatic melanoma.

Methods: A total of 676 HLA-A*0201-positive patients with unresectable stage III or IV melanoma, whose disease had progressed while they were receiving therapy for metastatic disease, were randomly assigned, in a 3:1:1 ratio, to receive ipilimumab plus gp100 (403 patients), ipilimumab alone (137), or gp100 alone (136).