Search

Multiple primary cancers may occur in the same patient, with a prevalence that follows an ascendant trend. Their development is dictated by a complex interplay between a variety of factors, both patient-dependent and external. The case of a 38-year-old female patient diagnosed and treated for pancreatic cancer (PC) is presented in whom the digital dermoscopic monitoring of melanocytic nevi revealed a marked change of two nevi that acquired rapidly highly atypical features. They were surgically excised and the histopathological examination revealed two completely excised dysplastic compound nevi. Clinicians should be aware of the strong association between dysplastic nevus syndrome and PC, a malignancy associated with an extremely poor prognosis. Familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome (FAMMM) predisposes to the development of melanoma, pancreatic cancer and other neoplasms. The common genetic background of PC and hereditary melanoma is discussed and the importance of regular skin checkup and screening for PC in these patients is underlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is an effective bioelectrochemical procedure that uses controlled electrical pulses to facilitate the increase of intracellular concentration of certain substances (electropermeabilization/ reversible electroporation). ECT using antitumor drugs such as bleomycin and cisplatin is a minimally invasive targeted therapy that can be used as an alternative for oncologic patients not eligible for surgery or other standard therapies. Even though ECT is mainly applied as palliative care for metastases, it may also be used for primary tumors that are unresectable due to size and location. Skin neoplasms are the main clinical indication of ECT, the procedure reporting good curative results and high efficiency across all tumor types, including melanoma. In daily practice, there are many cases in which the patient's quality of life can be significantly improved by a safe procedure such as ECT. Its popularity must be increased because it has a safe profile and minor local adverse reactions. The method can be used by dermatologists, oncologists, and surgeons. The aim of this paper is to review recent literature concerning electrochemotherapy and other clinical applications of electroporation for the targeted therapy of metastatic melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer, with limited therapeutic options. Since its incidence has been rapidly rising in recent years, the study of new targeted therapeutic strategies has increased. The implication of nanoscience in the development of alternative targeted therapies for melanoma has multiple benefits and could significantly improve the outcome of melanoma patients. In this paper, we review the most recent progress in the field of targeted therapies, emphasizing the impact of nanoscale materials on the targeting and controlled release of anti-tumor drugs. The applications of nanomedicine in the management of melanoma are extensive and refer to sentinel lymph node mapping, chemotherapy, and RNA interference; each of these applications harboring the potential to develop efficient and personalized diagnostic techniques and therapies. Further research, especially in clinical trials, is needed to establish whether fighting melanoma on the nanoscale level represents the key to reaching a critical inflection point in mankind's battle with metastatic melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]