Interactions from complementary and alternative medicine in patients with melanoma.

Biological-based (BbCAM) methods from complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) may interact with cancer treatments, reduce efficacy, or enhance adverse effects. Although CAM usage has been evaluated well in other cancer entities, data on melanoma patients are still missing. The aim of this study was to determine CAM usage of melanoma patients using a standardized questionnaire to identify potential interactions with established and new systemic melanoma therapies.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine: A multicenter cross-sectional study in 1089 melanoma patients.

Background: About half of patients with cancer use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). So far, data on melanoma patients are missing.

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence and predictors for the use of CAM in this patient group.

Mitoserate beim primären Melanom: Interobserver- und Intraobserver-Reproduzierbarkeit am HE-Schnitt und in der Immunhistologie.

Hintergrund: Die Melanomklassifikation wurde 2009 durch die AJCC revidiert. Für die Klassifizierung primärer Melanome wurde als dritte Größe neben Tumordicke und Ulzeration die Angabe der Mitoserate neu eingeführt. Gemäß der AJCC-2009-Klassifikation des Melanoms führt der Nachweis nur einer oder mehrerer dermaler Tumormitosen bei Melanomen ≤ 1,0 mm Tumordicke zu einer Umgruppierung des Tumors von T1a nach T1b.

Mitotic rate in primary melanoma: interobserver and intraobserver reliability, analyzed using H&E sections and immunohistochemistry.

Background: In 2009, the AJCC issued a revised melanoma staging system. In addition to tumor thickness and ulceration, the mitotic rate was introduced as the third major prognostic parameter for the classification of primary cutaneous melanoma. Given that, according to the 2009 AJCC classification, the detection of one or more dermal tumor mitoses leads to an upstaging - from stage Ia to Ib - of melanomas with a tumor thickness of ≤ 1.

Downregulation of STRA6 expression in epidermal keratinocytes leads to hyperproliferation-associated differentiation in both in vitro and in vivo skin models.

Retinoids are known to affect skin cell proliferation and differentiation and are key molecules that target retinoid and retinoic acid receptors (RXRs and RARs), leading to physiological and pharmacologic effects. Our aim was to elucidate the role of the retinol-binding protein receptor STRA6, mediating cellular uptake of retinol, on skin structure and function. Our results indicate that STRA6 is constitutively expressed in human epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts and is regulated via RAR/RXR-mediated pathways.

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.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation versus conventional therapy for advanced primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Background: Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) belong to the group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas and usually run an indolent course. However, some patients progress to advanced tumour or leukaemic stages. To date, there is no cure for those cases.

Proteolytic processing regulates placental growth factor activities.

Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a critical mediator of blood vessel formation, yet mechanisms of its action and regulation are incompletely understood. Here we demonstrate that proteolytic processing regulates the biological activity of PlGF. Specifically, we show that plasmin processing of PlGF-2 yields a protease-resistant core fragment comprising the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 binding site but lacking the carboxyl-terminal domain encoding the heparin-binding domain and an 8-amino acid peptide encoded by exon 7.

Assessment of clinical parameters associated with mutational status in metastatic malignant melanoma: a single-centre investigation of 141 patients.

Background: Inhibitors of the mutated, constitutively activated BRAF protein have shown efficacy in the treatment of metastatic melanoma in clinical trials. Mutation analysis especially of the BRAF, NRAS and KIT genes is essential to identify patients suitable for targeted therapies and has been introduced into routine patient care.

Objectives: To correlate mutational status with clinical parameters including age, skin type, number of melanocytic naevi, primary tumour location, chronic sun damage and exposure to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation.

[Personalized therapy concepts for malignant melanoma].

Metastatic melanoma is commonly regarded as one of the most difficult tumor entities to treat. Up to 2011 no systemic therapy had been able to achieve a prolongation of overall survival in controlled randomized trials. Cytotoxic chemotherapy resulted in objective remission in only a small subgroup of patients.

Treatment of advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphomas with non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin--consensus of the lymphoma group of the Working Group Dermatologic Oncology.

Background: Systemic treatment with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin is an established second-line treatment of advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) is currently unavailable, therefore, clinical studies investigating the efficacy of non-pegylated liposomal formula (NPLD) have been analyzed.

Methods: Since clinical trials comparing PLD and NPLD in CTCL do not exist, the clinical use of NPLD including safety and efficiency profile in other types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma were analyzed.

Epidermal expression of neuropilin 1 protects murine keratinocytes from UVB-induced apoptosis.

Background: Neuropilin 1 (NRP1) is expressed on several cell types including neurons and endothelial cells, where it functions as an important regulator in development and during angiogenesis. As a cell surface receptor, NRP1 is able to bind to members of the VEGF family of growth factors and to secreted class 3 semaphorins. Neuropilin 1 is also highly expressed in keratinocytes, but the function of NRP1 in epidermal physiology and pathology is still unclear.

AATF/Che-1 acts as a phosphorylation-dependent molecular modulator to repress p53-driven apoptosis.

Following genotoxic stress, cells activate a complex signalling network to arrest the cell cycle and initiate DNA repair or apoptosis. The tumour suppressor p53 lies at the heart of this DNA damage response. However, it remains incompletely understood, which signalling molecules dictate the choice between these different cellular outcomes.

Mast cells play a protumorigenic role in primary cutaneous lymphoma.

Primary cutaneous lymphomas (PCLs) are clonal T- or B-cell neoplasms, which originate in the skin. In recent years, mast cells were described as regulators of the tumor microenvironment in different human malignancies. Here, we investigated the role of mast cells in the tumor microenvironment of PCL.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation for advanced primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: a systematic review.

Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) are non-Hodgkin lymphomas usually running an indolent course. However, some patients progress to tumor stages or leukemic phase for which no curative treatment is available. Although initial response rates are high, remissions are often short-lived.

Dexpanthenol modulates gene expression in skin wound healing in vivo.

Topical application of dexpanthenol is widely used in clinical practice for the improvement of wound healing. Previous in vitro experiments identified a stimulatory effect of pantothenate on migration, proliferation and gene regulation in cultured human dermal fibroblasts. To correlate these in vitro findings with the more complex in vivo situation of wound healing, a clinical trial was performed in which the dexpanthenol-induced gene expression profile in punch biopsies of previously injured and dexpanthenol-treated skin in comparison to placebo-treated skin was analyzed at the molecular level by Affymetrix® GeneChip analysis.

Successful Treatment of a Panniculitis-Like Primary Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma of the α/β Type with Bexarotene.

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTL) of the α/β type is a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the skin. Although these tumors usually run an indolent course, disease-related morbidity is often severe. Clinical findings include subcutaneous tumors located on the extremities or trunk, often accompanied by systemic symptoms like fever or fatigue.

A decreased ratio between serum levels of the antagonistic angiopoietins 1 and 2 indicates tumour progression of malignant melanoma.

The growth of solid tumours like malignant melanoma depends on the ability of neoplastic cells to induce angiogenesis to ensure sufficient supply with nutrients and oxygen. The process of angiogenesis is tightly controlled by positive and negative regulators. Since many of these factors can be measured in the serum of patients, their use as tumour markers has been suggested.

Regression of metastatic melanoma in a patient by antibody targeting of cancer stem cells.

Current therapeutic regimens attempt to eliminate all malignant cells of a melanoma lesion; pre-clinical data, however, indicate that melanoma, once established, is maintained by a minor, non-random subset of cancer cells which are characterized by CD20 expression. We asked to eliminate those cells in a progressing, chemotherapy-refractory metastatic melanoma patient by lesional injections of the anti-CD20 therapeutic antibody rituximab and concomitant low dose systemic dacarbazine treatment. Although the frequencies of CD20+ melanoma cells within the tumor lesions were initially about 2% and the bulk of tumor cells did not express CD20, rituximab treatment produced lasting remission of treated tumor lesions in the long-term.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation versus conventional therapy for advanced primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Background: Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) belong to the group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas and usually run an indolent course. However, some patients progress to advanced tumour or leukaemic stages. Up to now, no curative treatment has been established for those cases.