Effects of FOLFOX Chemotherapy on Tumor Oxygenation and Perfused Vasculature: An In Vivo Study by Optical Techniques.

The effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy on tumor vasculature and oxygenation are in the focus of modern investigations because vascular structure and distribution of oxygen influence tumor behavior and treatment response. The aim of our study was to monitor changes in the vascular component of colorectal tumor xenografts induced by a clinical combination of chemotherapy drugs FOLFOX in vivo using two complementary techniques: diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and optical coherence tomography-based microangiography (OCT-MA). These techniques revealed a slower decrease in tumor blood oxygenation in treated tumors as compared to untreated ones, faster suppression of tumor vasculature perfusion and increase in water content as a result of treatment, and decrease in total hemoglobin in untreated tumors.

Practical Recommendations on Laboratory Monitoring in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis on Oral JAK Inhibitors.

Oral Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi), a class of advanced targeted systemic therapy, have demonstrated efficacy and safety in the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Like other small molecules, oral JAKi have the potential for off-target effects including laboratory-related adverse events (AEs). Product labels for oral JAKi recommend an initial laboratory assessment and follow-up 4-12 weeks later to monitor for potential changes, based on evidence from clinical trials across therapeutic indications for oral JAKi, which may not reflect a population of moderate-to-severe AD patients typically seen in routine clinical practice.

Canadian Expert Consensus on the Use of Halobetasol Propionate/Tazarotene Lotion for Plaque Psoriasis.

Introduction: An expert panel of Canadian dermatologists was assembled to develop consensus statements regarding the current landscape of topical therapies for plaque psoriasis and the place in therapy of the recently approved fixed-dose combination halobetasol propionate (HP)/tazarotene (TAZ) lotion (HP/TAZ) in the treatment algorithm for plaque psoriasis.

Method: A modified nominal group technique, which combined both independent and group input from the expert panel, was used to develop the consensus statements. The expert panel completed surveys to elicit their independent views on the current landscape of topical therapies for plaque psoriasis in Canada.

Baseline Characteristics of Canadian Patients in the Psoriasis Longitudinal Assessment and Registry (PSOLAR).

Background: The Psoriasis Longitudinal Assessment and Registry (PSOLAR) is a global, prospective, longitudinal, disease-based registry. It serves as a post-marketing safety commitment with a focus on patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy.

Objectives: To describe the baseline disease demographics and clinical characteristics of a Canadian subgroup of participants enrolled in PSOLAR.

Assessing Skin Cancer Risk Factors, Sun Safety Behaviors and Melanoma Concern in Atlantic Canada: A Comprehensive Survey Study.

Background: The incidence of cutaneous melanoma (CM) is increasing at an alarming rate in Canada and elsewhere around the world. Significant regional differences in CM incidence have been identified in Atlantic provinces. The goal of this study is to compare ultraviolet exposure, sun protective behaviours, level of worry and baseline CM knowledge in provinces with a high versus low incidence of CM as well, as between various demographic groups.

Utilization of Topical Ruxolitinib in Dermatology: A Review.

As systemic administration of Janus kinase-inhibitors is associated with safety concerns, local alternatives, such as topical ruxolitinib, have been developed. This review summarizes utilization of topical ruxolitinib in dermatology. A literature search was performed of studies reporting topical use of ruxolitinib in dermatologic conditions.

Use of Systemic Therapies for Treatment of Psoriasis in Patients with a History of Treated Solid Tumours: Inference-Based Guidance from a Multidisciplinary Expert Panel.

Background: Patients with treated solid tumours (TSTs) are a highly heterogeneous population at an increased risk for malignancy compared with the general population. When treating psoriasis in patients with a history of TSTs, clinicians are concerned about the immunosuppressive nature of psoriasis therapies, the possibility of augmenting cancer recurrence/progression, and infectious complications. No direct, high-level evidence exists to address these concerns.

Efficacy and Safety of Risankizumab for the Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Phase 2, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, immune-mediated skin condition characterized by inflammatory lesions that can cause pain, impaired physical activity, and reduced quality of life. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of risankizumab, a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that specifically inhibits interleukin 23 by binding to its p19 subunit, for the treatment of HS.

Methods: This phase II multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study investigated the efficacy and safety of risankizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe HS.

Multimodal Optical Monitoring of Auto- and Allografts of Skin on a Burn Wound.

The aim of the study was to investigate the dynamics of the state of allo- and autografts of skin on a wound using optical modalities: diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). A deep thermal burn was simulated in 24 rats covering 20% of the body surface. On day 3 after the injury, a fascial necrectomy of two 500 mm areas on the left and right sides of the midline of the animal body were excised.

VIS-NIR Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy System with Self-Calibrating Fiber-Optic Probe: Study of Perturbation Resistance.

We report on the comparative analysis of self-calibrating and single-slope diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in resistance to different measurement perturbations. We developed an experimental setup for diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) in a wide VIS-NIR range with a fiber-optic probe equipped with two source and two detection fibers capable of providing measurements employing both single- and dual-slope (self-calibrating) approaches. In order to fit the dynamic range of a spectrometer in the wavelength range of 460-1030 nm, different exposure times have been applied for short (2 mm) and long (4 mm) source-detector distances.

In vivo monitoring of vascularization and oxygenation of tumor xenografts using optoacoustic microscopy and diffuse optical spectroscopy.

The research is devoted to comparison of the blood vessel structure and the oxygen state of three xenografts: SN-12C, HCT-116 and Colo320. Differences in the vessel formation and the level of oxygenation are revealed by optoacoustic (OA) microscopy and diffuse optical spectroscopy (DOS) respectively. The Colo320 tumor is characterized by the highest values of vessel size and fraction.

Changes in the tumor oxygenation but not in the tumor volume and tumor vascularization reflect early response of breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) allows for assessing tumor sensitivity to systemic treatment, planning adjuvant treatment and follow-up. However, a sufficiently large number of patients fail to achieve the desired level of pathological tumor response while optimal early response assessment methods have not been established now. In our study, we simultaneously assessed the early chemotherapy-induced changes in the tumor volume by ultrasound (US), the tumor oxygenation by diffuse optical spectroscopy imaging (DOSI), and the state of the tumor vascular bed by Doppler US to elaborate the predictive criteria of breast tumor response to treatment.

Clinical Implications of Targeting the JAK-STAT Pathway in Psoriatic Disease: Emphasis on the TYK2 Pathway.

Cytokines in the interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 axis are central to psoriasis pathogenesis. Janus kinase (JAK) signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) regulates intracellular signalling of several cytokines (including IL-12, 23, 22, 6, 17, and interferon (IFN)-γ) in the IL-23/IL-17 axis, and, as a result, has become a therapeutic target for psoriasis treatment. Although several JAK1-3 inhibitors, with varying degrees of selectivity, have been developed for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, use in psoriasis is limited by a low therapeutic index as anticipated by signals from other disease indications.

Extracorporeal Photopheresis and Its Use in Clinical Dermatology in Canada.

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an immunomodulatory therapy that has been used for over 35 years to treat numerous conditions. ECP was initially approved by the US FDA in 1988 for the treatment of Sézary syndrome, a leukemic form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Although CTCL remains the only FDA-approved indication, ECP has since been used off-label for numerous other conditions, including graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), systemic sclerosis, autoimmune bullous dermatoses, Crohn's disease, and prevention of solid organ transplant rejection.

Follow-up of Patients With Keratinocyte Carcinoma: A Systematic Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Importance: Patients treated for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), collectively called keratinocyte carcinoma (KC), are at risk for recurrence, metastasis, and additional primary cutaneous malignant neoplasms. It is unclear how often patients should be seen for follow-up skin examination after initial treatment of KC.

Objective: To summarize the recommendations and evaluate the methodological quality of clinical practice guidelines for dermatologic follow-up of patients with BCC and invasive SCC.

The Role of Interleukins in the Pathogenesis of Dermatological Immune-Mediated Diseases.

Autoimmune inflammatory diseases are primarily characterized by deregulated expression of cytokines, which drive pathogenesis of these diseases. A number of approved and experimental therapies utilize monoclonal antibodies against cytokine proteins. Cytokines can be classified into different families including the interleukins, which are secreted and act on leukocytes, the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family, as well as chemokine proteins.

Management of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis with biologics: A treat-to-target position paper.

Treat-to-target (T2T) recommendations for the use of systemic therapies (including biologics) in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis have been published by a few groups of experts worldwide. However, there remains considerable variability in the choice of target severity measure and timing of milestones. To develop consensus recommendations for implementing T2T strategies for the management of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis using biologics.

Review and Practical Guidance on Managing Fungal Infections in Patients With Psoriasis Receiving Anti-IL-17 Therapies.

The IL-17 signalling pathway is a major target in treatment of plaque psoriasis. IL-17 signalling contributes to chronic inflammation and epidermal hyperplasia seen in psoriatic lesions. Blocking the IL-17 signalling cascade is an effective method in treating this disease.