TrkA is amplified in malignant melanoma patients and induces an anti-proliferative response in cell lines.

Background: The nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor tyrosine-kinase TrkA is a well-known determinant of the melanocytic lineage, through modulation of the MAPK and AKT cascades. While TrkA gene is frequently rearranged in cancers, its involvement in malignant melanoma (MM) development is still unclear.

Methods: We analyzed a dataset of primary cutaneous MM (n = 31) by array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), to identify genomic amplifications associated with tumor progression.

A 10-Year Follow-Up Study of Subjects Recruited in a Health Campaign for the Early Diagnosis of Cutaneous Melanoma: Suggestions for the Screening Timetable.

Background: Cutaneous melanoma affects people at a relatively young age. The possibility of making a screening at the population level is strongly limited because of the high costs and the shortage of well-trained operators.

Objective: To evaluate the possibility of a sustainable timetable of screening examinations for cutaneous melanoma.

Photodamage in deep tissue two-photon optical biopsy of human skin.

Photodamage, induced by femtosecond laser radiation, was studied in thick samples of human skin tissue (healthy skin and neoplastic lesions). Photobleaching, photoionization, and thermomechanical damage effects were characterized comparatively. The laser power dependence of the damage rates allowed to connect macroscopic effects to underlying molecular processes.

Lobular panniculitic infiltrates with overlapping histopathologic features of lupus panniculitis (lupus profundus) and subcutaneous T-cell lymphoma: a conceptual and practical dilemma.

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is characterized by panniculitic infiltrates that may be difficult to distinguish from inflammatory disorders, particularly lupus erythematosus profundus (LEP). We report on 11 patients (M:F=5:6; median age: 49 y; range: 20 to 75 y) presenting with lobular panniculitic infiltrates showing histopathologic features of both SPTCL and LEP in different parts of the same biopsy specimen. The areas showing aspects of SPTCL revealed dense infiltrates of small and medium-sized, atypical α/β T-cytotoxic lymphocytes with focal rimming of the adipocytes and high proliferation.

Increased frequency of minimal homozygous deletions is associated with poor prognosis in primary malignant melanoma patients.

Identification of prognostic melanoma-associated copy number alterations (CNAs) is still an area of active research. Here, we investigated by high-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) a cohort of 31 paraffin-preserved primary malignant melanomas (MMs), whose prognosis was not predictable on the basis of conventional histopathological parameters. Although we identified a variety of highly recurrent sites of genomic lesions, the total number of CNAs per patient was not a discriminator of MM outcome.

Clinicopathologic and molecular features in cutaneous extranodal natural killer-/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, with aggressive and indolent course.

Background: Extranodal natural killer-/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTCL-NT) is a highly aggressive lymphoma and prognosis is usually poor. The genetic background of primary cutaneous cases is poorly understood.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the clinicopathologic features of cutaneous ENKTCL-NT, and the prognostic significance of genomic copy number alterations.

Syringotropic mycosis fungoides: a rare variant of the disease with peculiar clinicopathologic features.

A rare variant of mycosis fungoides (MF) characterized by prominent involvement of the eccrine glands with syringometaplasia has been reported in the past as "syringolymphoid hyperplasia with alopecia," "syringotropic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma," "adnexotropic T-cell lymphoma," or "syringotropic MF." The clinicopathologic features of this variant are not well understood, and only a few case reports or small series have been published to date. We reviewed the clinicopathologic features of 14 patients with syringotropic MF (male:female=10:4; median age, 59 years; mean age, 57.

Clinical relevance of sentinel lymph node status examined with conventional histology and molecular biology.

Aims And Background: The presence of nodal metastases in patients with primary cutaneous melanoma adversely affects the biological behavior and is related to a poor prognosis. The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy is still debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of sentinel lymph node biopsy with respect to disease-free period and overall survival.

Incidence and mortality data from cutaneous melanoma in Trentino: registry-based study.

Background: The province of Trento has been the target of health campaigns for early diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma for 30 years.

Objective: To evaluate incidence and mortality data of skin melanoma in the province from January 1992 to December 2001.

Methods: The study is based on the provincial skin cancer registry and the regional mortality registry.

Epidemiology of skin tumors: data from the cutaneous cancer registry in Trentino, Italy.

Background: A Skin Cancer Registry was established in the province of Trento in northeast Italy in 1992 with the aim of collecting data on all cutaneous tumors affecting residents. These neoplasms are responsible for considerable morbidity and utilization of the Health Service because of their high frequency and, therefore, knowledge of the exact incidence is very important in planning health policies. Registry data are also very helpful in performing studies of analytical and descriptive epidemiology.