Melanoma News

Trial watch: Ipilimumab success in melanoma provides boost for cancer immunotherapy

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 9, 584 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrd3245

Phase III trial results for ipilimumab, an immunomodulatory monoclonal antibody that targets cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4), showed that it increased survival by 3.7 months in patients with advanced melanoma
(N. Engl. J. Med. 14 Jun 2010; doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1003466).“These findings are appropriately receiving (Source: Nature Reviews Drug Discovery)

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DNAJB6 Induces Degradation of {beta}-Catenin and Causes Partial Reversal of Mesenchymal Phenotype [Cell Biology]

We showed that expression of MRJ (DNAJB6) protein is lost in invasive ductal carcinoma, and restoration of MRJ(L) restricts malignant behavior of breast cancer and melanoma cells. However, the signaling pathways influenced by MRJ(L) are largely unknown. Our observations revealed that MRJ(L) expression causes changes in cell morphology concomitant with down-regulation of several mesenchymal markers, viz. vimentin, N-cadherin, Twist, and Slug, and up-regulation of epithelial marker keratin 18. Importantly, MRJ(L) expression led to reduced levels of β-catenin, an epithelial mesenchymal transition marker, and a critical player in the Wnt pathway. We found that MRJ(L) up-regulates expression of DKK1, a well known Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitor, that causes degradation of β-cat...

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Off-Axis Photoacoustic Microscopy

Photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) is a high-contrast, high-resolution imaging modality, used primarily for imaging hemoglobin and melanin. Important applications include mapping of the microvasculature and melanoma tumor margins. We demonstrate a novel PAM design that markedly simplifies the implementation by separating the optical illumination from the acoustic detection path. This modification enables the use of high-quality commercial optics and transducers, and may be readily adapted to commercial light microscopes. The designed PAM system is only sensitive to signals generated in the overlap of the illumination and detection solid angles, providing the additional benefit of quasi-dark-field detection. An off-axis PAM system with a lateral resolution of 26 $mu$m and a modest axial resolut...

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Increasing radiation from sentinel node specimens in pathology over time.

Authors: Renshaw AA, Kish R, Gould EW
Previous studies have recommended no special precautions for radiation when handling sentinel node specimens in the pathology laboratory. We reviewed 7 years of data concerning radioactivity in 2,902 sentinel node and primary resection specimens received in our pathology laboratory. The percentage of specimens with greater than background radiation (>/=0.2 mrem/h) rose from 6.3% to 34.8% from 2003 to 2009 (P < .001); specimens with more than 10 mrem/h rose from 0.0% to 9.3% (P < .001). Four specimens were measured at 100 mrem/h. While mastectomy followed by skin excisions for melanoma were the most common specimens to have radiation more than 2.0 mrem/h (32.2% and 27.3%, respectively), this level of radiation was found in all types of case...

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Malignant melanoma during treatment with fumaric acid esters – coincidence or treatment-related?

We report for the first time the development of melanoma in two patients during their treatment with FAE. The logical question is [ndash] are the tumors coincidental or might they be treatment-related? Further investigations of pathways and immunologic effects as well as careful reports of side effects are necessary to estimate the risks of malignancy of FAE. (Source: JDDG)

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Skin Cancer Knowledge and Prevention Counseling Among Arizona Pharmacists

In conclusion, the length of pharmacy practice in Arizona and having a family member or close friend affected by skin cancer significantly impacted a pharmacists’ knowledge of skin cancer. (Source: Journal of Pharmacy Practice)

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Correlating array comparative genomic hybridization findings with histology and outcome in spitzoid melanocytic neoplasms.

In this study, we correlated the clinical, histologic and array CGH findings of 10 spiztoid melanocytic neoplasms. Our study shows that the clinical and histologic changes correlate well with the molecular findings by array CGH. Further that array CGH can be used to help classify and predict behavior of spitzoid melanocytic neoplasms. A limited variety of copy number aberrations including gains of 11p and much more rarely 7q may be seen in spitz nevi. Additionally in this report we present the first case of a typical spitz nevus with copy number gains involving both 7q and 11p. Conversely, melanomas with spitzoid features typically have multiple chromsomal copy number aberrations involving a variety of loci. A smaller number of chromosomal aberrations, possibly a single aberrant locus, may...

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Stable GM3 Lactone Mimetic Raises Antibodies Specific for the Antigens Expressed on Melanoma Cells

Bioconjugate Chemistry, Volume 0, Issue 0, Articles ASAP (As Soon As Publishable). (Source: Bioconjugate Chemistry)

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The evolution of melanoma diagnosis: 25 years beyond the ABCDs

(American Cancer Society) Twenty-five years after publishing the mnemonic "ABCD" to facilitate the early diagnosis of melanoma, the group who came up with that moniker says early detection remains a key factor in lowering mortality from malignant melanoma. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

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Analysis of adenovirus trans-complementation-mediated gene expression controlled by melanoma-specific TETP promoter in vitro

Conclusions:
The cancer cell-selective TETP tested here did not give the expected enforceable transgene expression typically achieved in the adenovirus trans-complementing system. Reasons for this could include virus-mediated down regulation of limiting transcription factors, and / or competition for such factors by different promoters. Whether this finding is unique to the particular promoter system tested here, or also occurs with other promoters warrants further investigations. (Source: Virology Journal)

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