Serpentine supravenous hyperpigmentation induced by chemotherapy: a systematic review.

Serpentine supravenous hyperpigmentation (SSH) describes increased skin pigmentation that develops in the area immediately overlying the vessels through which chemotherapeutic drugs are administered. While SSH can be cosmetically distressing and there are no definitive management options, the literature is severely limited and the variations in clinical presentation, risk factors, and histopathology of SSH across patients are not well understood. We aimed to systematically summarize characteristics from current available data, and thus improve SSH awareness and management.

Targeted DNA Sequencing of Cutaneous Melanoma Identifies Prognostic and Predictive Alterations.

Background: Cutaneous melanoma (CM) can be molecularly classified into four groups: mutant, mutant, mutant and triple wild-type (TWT) tumors lacking any of these three alterations. In the era of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) and targeted molecular therapy, the clinical significance of these groups remains unclear. Here, we integrate targeted DNA sequencing with comprehensive clinical follow-up in CM patients.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis-like acute graft-versus-host disease in pediatric bone marrow transplant patients: Case series and review of the literature.

Background/objectives: Complications of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) include acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). Severe cutaneous aGVHD can present with generalized erythroderma, desquamation, and bullae which can mimic toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). TEN occurs in response to a culprit medication.

Lung Deposition of Inhaled Extrafine Beclomethasone Dipropionate/Formoterol Fumarate/Glycopyrronium Bromide in Healthy Volunteers and Asthma: The STORM Study.

An extrafine formulation triple therapy combination of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), formoterol fumarate (FF), and glycopyrronium bromide (GB) has been developed for the maintenance treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This study used gamma scintigraphy to evaluate the intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary deposition of BDP/FF/GB, and the intrapulmonary regional distribution of the deposited formulation. This open-label uncontrolled nonrandomized single-dose study recruited 10 healthy volunteers and 9 patients with asthma.

Vitamin E δ-tocotrienol sensitizes human pancreatic cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through proteasome-mediated down-regulation of c-FLIP.

Background: Vitamin E δ-tocotrienol (VEDT), a vitamin E compound isolated from sources such as palm fruit and annatto beans, has been reported to have cancer chemopreventive and therapeutic effects.

Methods: We report a novel function of VEDT in augmenting tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand- (TRAIL-) induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells. The effects of VEDT were shown by its ability to trigger caspase-8-dependent apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells.

Kinetics of Clobetasol-17-Propionate in Psoriatic Lesional and Non-Lesional Skin Assessed by Dermal Open Flow Microperfusion with Time and Space Resolution.

Purpose: To evaluate the kinetics of topically applied clobetasol-17-propionate (CP-17) in lesional and non-lesional psoriatic skin when released from a commercially available low-strength cream using in vivo dermal open-flow microperfusion (dOFM).

Methods: Twelve patients received Dermovate® cream (CP-17, 0.05%) on small lesional and non-lesional skin test sites for 14 days, once daily.

Targeting Focal Adhesion Kinase and Resistance to mTOR Inhibition in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Background: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) mediates survival of normal pancreatic islets through activation of AKT. Upon malignant transformation of islet cells into pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs), AKT is frequently overexpressed and mutations in the AKT/mTOR pathway are detected. Because mTOR inhibitors rarely induce PanNET tumor regression, partly because of feedback activation of AKT, novel combination strategies are needed to target FAK/AKT/mTOR signaling.

Current understanding of the molecular biology of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) are complicated and often deadly neoplasms. A recent increased understanding of their molecular biology has contributed to expanded treatment options. DNA sequencing of samples derived from patients with PanNETs and rare genetic syndromes such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) and Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome reveals the involvement of MEN1, DAXX/ATRX, and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways in PanNET tumorigenesis.

Vitamin E δ-tocotrienol induces p27(Kip1)-dependent cell-cycle arrest in pancreatic cancer cells via an E2F-1-dependent mechanism.

Vitamin E δ-tocotrienol has been shown to have antitumor activity, but the precise molecular mechanism by which it inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that δ-tocotrienol exerted significant cell growth inhibition pancreatic ductal cancer (PDCA) cells without affecting normal human pancreatic ductal epithelial cell growth. We also showed that δ-tocotrienol-induced growth inhibition occurred concomitantly with G(1) cell-cycle arrest and increased p27(Kip1) nuclear accumulation.

Vitamin E δ-tocotrienol augments the antitumor activity of gemcitabine and suppresses constitutive NF-κB activation in pancreatic cancer.

The NF-κB transcription factor functions as a crucial regulator of cell survival and chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer. Recent studies suggest that tocotrienols, which are the unsaturated forms of vitamin E, are a promising class of anticancer compounds that inhibit the growth and survival of many cancer cells, including pancreatic cancer. Here, we show that tocotrienols inhibited NF-κB activity and the survival of human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Shave biopsy is a safe and accurate method for the initial evaluation of melanoma.

Background: Shave biopsy of cutaneous lesions is simple, efficient, and commonly used clinically. However, this technique has been criticized for its potential to hamper accurate diagnosis and microstaging of melanoma, thereby complicating treatment decision-making.

Study Design: We retrospectively analyzed a consecutive series of patients referred to the University of Florida Shands Cancer Center or to the Moffitt Cancer Center for treatment of primary cutaneous melanoma, initially diagnosed on shave biopsy to have Breslow depth < 2 mm, to determine the accuracy of shave biopsy in T-staging and the potential impact on definitive surgical treatment and outcomes.

Vitamin E delta-tocotrienol levels in tumor and pancreatic tissue of mice after oral administration.

Tocotrienols are natural vitamin E compounds that are known to have a neuroprotective effect at nanomolar concentration and anti-carcinogenic effect at micromolar concentration. In this report, we investigated the pharmacokinetics, tumor and pancreatic tissue levels, and toxicity of delta-tocotrienol in mice because of its anti-tumor activity against pancreatic cancer. Following a single oral administration of delta-tocotrienol at 100 mg/kg, the peak plasma concentration (C(max)) was 57 +/- 5 micromol/l, the time required to reach peak plasma concentration (T(max)) was 2 h and plasma half-life (t(1/2)) was 3.