Trauma and foreign bodies may favour the onset of melanoma metastases

Poor prognosis of early-stage acral melanoma with a history of trauma: a multicenter analysis of 468 patients

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have suggested that trauma may be a risk factor for the development and prognosis of acral melanoma (AM).

METHODS

This population-based retrospective cohort study included patients with AM and a confirmed history of trauma who received treatment at 5 melanoma treatment centers in China. Factors associated with recurrence and survival were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

Totally 468 AM cases were included in this study, with 101 patients in the trauma group and 367 in the non-trauma group. The trauma group had more patients with ulceration (P = .027), mitotic rate ≥ 1 (P = .036), and Clark level IV-V (P = .009) than the non-trauma group. Among stage I-II postoperative AM patients, the median recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 33.3 months (95% CI: 18.8-47.8) and 115.6 months (95% CI: 96.3-135.0) in the trauma and non-trauma groups, respectively (P < .001). Similarly, the median overall survival (OS) was 64.6 (95% CI: 54.8-74.4) and not reached (95% CI: NR), respectively (P = .002). Comparatively, no significant differences were observed in RFS or OS between the trauma and non-trauma groups in patients with stage III and IV AM. Multifactorial analysis showed that trauma was an independent risk factor for RFS and OS only in patients with stage I-II AM patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative stage I-II patients in the trauma group had significantly worse RFS and OS compared to those in the non-trauma group.

Skin cancer biology and barriers to treatment: Recent applications of polymeric micro/nanostructures

Background

Skin cancer has been the leading type of cancer worldwide. Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers are now the most common types of skin cancer that have been reached to epidemic proportion. Based on the rapid prevalence of skin cancers, and lack of efficient drug delivery systems, it is essential to surge the possible ways to prevent or cure the disease.

Aim of review

Although surgical modalities and therapies have been made great progress in recent years, however, there is still an urgent need to alleviate its increased burden. Hence, understanding the precise pathophysiological signaling mechanisms and all other factors of such skin insults will be beneficial for the development of more efficient therapies.

Key scientific concepts of review

In this review, we explained new understandings about onset and development of skin cancer and described its management via polymeric micro/nano carriers-based therapies, highlighting the current key bottlenecks and future prospective in this field. In therapeutic drug/gene delivery approaches, polymeric carriers-based system is the most promising strategy. This review discusses that how polymers have successfully been exploited for development of micro/nanosized systems for efficient delivery of anticancer genes and drugs overcoming all the barriers and limitations associated with available conventional therapies. In addition to drug/gene delivery, intelligent polymeric nanocarriers platforms have also been established for combination anticancer therapies including photodynamic and photothermal, and for theranostic applications. This portfolio of latest approaches could promote the blooming growth of research and their clinical availability.