Uncovering Minimal Pathways in Melanoma Initiation.

Cutaneous melanomas are clinically and histologically heterogeneous. Most display activating mutations in or and complete loss of function of one or more tumor suppressor genes. Mouse models that replicate such mutations produce fast-growing, pigmented tumors.

Non-invasive Imaging Techniques for Monitoring Cellular Response to Treatment in Stable Vitiligo.

Punch grafting procedures, where small pieces of normal skin are transplanted into stable vitiligo patches, results in repigmentation in only half of patients treated, yet the factors that determine whether a patient responds to treatment or not are still unknown. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is adept at visualizing melanocyte migration and epidermal changes over large areas while multiphoton microscopy (MPM) can capture metabolic changes in keratinocytes. With the overall goal of identifying optical biomarkers for early treatment response, we followed 12 vitiligo lesions undergoing punch grafting.

A Low-Cost Modular Imaging System for Rapid, Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Detection in Clinical Tissues.

To image 4-plex immunofluorescence-stained tissue samples at a low cost with cellular level resolution and sensitivity and dynamic range required to detect lowly and highly abundant targets, here we describe a robust, inexpensive (<$9000), 3D printable portable imaging device (Tissue Imager). The Tissue Imager can immediately be deployed on benchtops for in situ protein detection in tissue samples. Applications for this device are broad, ranging from answering basic biological questions to clinical pathology, where immunofluorescence can detect a larger number of markers than the standard H&E or chromogenic immunohistochemistry (CIH) staining, while the low cost also allows usage in classrooms.

Multimodal analyses of vitiligo skin identify tissue characteristics of stable disease.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune skin disease characterized by the destruction of melanocytes by autoreactive CD8+ T cells. Melanocyte destruction in active vitiligo is mediated by CD8+ T cells, but the persistence of white patches in stable disease is poorly understood. The interaction between immune cells, melanocytes, and keratinocytes in situ in human skin has been difficult to study due to the lack of proper tools.

Spatial transcriptomics using combinatorial fluorescence spectral and lifetime encoding, imaging and analysis.

Multiplexed mRNA profiling in the spatial context provides new information enabling basic research and clinical applications. Unfortunately, existing spatial transcriptomics methods are limited due to either low multiplexing or complexity. Here, we introduce a spatialomics technology, termed Multi Omic Single-scan Assay with Integrated Combinatorial Analysis (MOSAICA), that integrates in situ labeling of mRNA and protein markers in cells or tissues with combinatorial fluorescence spectral and lifetime encoded probes, spectral and time-resolved fluorescence imaging, and machine learning-based decoding.

When oncogenes do not cause cancer.

Environmental cues, not oncogene-induced senescence, may stop melanocytes with an activating mutation in the gene from turning into melanoma.

Histopathologic PD-L1 Tumor Expression and Prognostic Significance in Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers: A Systematic Review.

PD-L1 and PD-1 inhibitors are being increasingly used to treat a variety of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). This systematic review summarizes PD-L1 expression in NMSCs and determines its use for prognosis using targeted immunotherapy. A primary search of peer-reviewed English-language medical literature was conducted for studies on PD-L1 tumor expression in biopsied or excised NMSCs.

Programmed cell death 1 protein and programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors in the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer: A systematic review.

Background: Immunotherapy using programmed cell death 1 protein (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors has been increasingly reported in a variety of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs).

Objective: To analyze the evidence of PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors in the treatment of NMSC.

Methods: A primary literature search was conducted with the PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases through October 28, 2018, to include studies on the use of PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors in patients for NMSC.