ATLAS: A positive, high-yield review of patient symptoms most significantly associated with melanoma recurrence.

BACKGROUND: No standardized, evidence-based surveillance practices exist to guide and optimize recurrence detection in patients with cutaneous melanoma. OBJECTIVE: To determine the most high-yield positive review of systems for signaling recurrence in patients with cutaneous melanoma. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study assessed patients with a history of cutaneous melanoma and compared demographic and clinical characteristics, including a comprehensive review of systems, among those who experienced recurrence and those who did not. RESULTS: A high-yield positive review of systems associated with cutaneous melanoma recurrence can be remembered using the mnemonic "ATLAS": Appetite change, Tiredness, Lymph node enlargement, Abdominal pain, and Shortness of breath LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design, limited sample size, and variability in follow-up time between recurrent and nonrecurrent cohorts. CONCLUSION: Any treating physician using this model may have a greater opportunity to detect recurrent cutaneous melanoma and improve outcomes while limiting cost and morbidity.

INDIVIDUAL ARTICLE: USCOM Algorithm for the Prevention and Management of Cutaneous Immunotherapy-Related Adverse Events.

BACKGROUND: In 2023, nearly 2 million patients will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States and at least 40% will be eligible for treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). Cutaneous immune related adverse events (cirAEs) from ICIs are common and include pruritus as well as maculopapular, eczematous, bullous, lichenoid, and psoriasiform reactions. All clinicians interfacing with cancer patients must expedite proper evaluation and diagnosis, treatment, and/or consultation that supports the need for evidence-directed guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A panel of advisors was selected, and a systematic literature review generated foundational evidence to develop a treatment algorithm for cirAEs via a modified Delphi process. Iterations of the algorithm were performed until the group met consensus. RESULTS: An algorithm that tailors the management of cirAEs was developed based on the CTCAE v.5 grading of skin disorders. Representative clinical images and suggested diagnostic measures, supplement the algorithm. CONCLUSION: Recognition and treatment of cirAEs guided through a multidisciplinary, physician-developed algorithm will limit disruption of immunotherapy, optimize quality of life, and enhance overall outcomes in patients treated with ICIs. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22:11(Suppl 1):s3-10.

Anticancer therapies associated with secondary cutaneous malignancies: A review of the literature.

Recent advancements in anticancer therapy have produced an array of highly specialized therapeutics that prolong disease-free survival, improve tolerability of treatment, and individualize care. With improved treatments and longer survival, treatment-related toxicities are gaining importance. Dermatologic toxicities are common, with therapy-induced secondary cutaneous malignancies of the most frequent and serious for targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. Often, these eruptive malignant lesions can be treatment limiting and detrimental to quality of life. As such, dermatologists play an important role in multidisciplinary oncologic care teams for surveillance and management of secondary cutaneous malignancies. Proactive dermatologic supervision yields early diagnosis and treatment of secondary cutaneous malignancies, which limits therapy discontinuation and thus optimizes treatment through both therapeutic achievement and overall well-being.

The Impact of Single-Cell Genomics on Adipose Tissue Research.

Adipose tissue is an important regulator of whole-body metabolism and energy homeostasis. The unprecedented growth of obesity and metabolic disease worldwide has required paralleled advancements in research on this dynamic endocrine organ system. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), a highly meticulous methodology used to dissect tissue heterogeneity through the transcriptional characterization of individual cells, is responsible for facilitating critical advancements in this area. The unique investigative capabilities achieved by the combination of nanotechnology, molecular biology, and informatics are expanding our understanding of adipose tissue's composition and compartmentalized functional specialization, which underlie physiologic and pathogenic states, including adaptive thermogenesis, adipose tissue aging, and obesity. In this review, we will summarize the use of scRNA-seq and single-nuclei RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) in adipocyte biology and their applications to obesity and diabetes research in the hopes of increasing awareness of the capabilities of this technology and acting as a catalyst for its expanded use in further investigation.

Bacterial Decolonization for Prevention of Radiation Dermatitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Evidence-based approaches for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) are limited, and additional strategies are necessary to optimize care. Objective: To determine the efficacy of bacterial decolonization (BD) to reduce ARD severity compared with standard of care. Design, Setting, and Participants: This phase 2/3 randomized clinical trial was conducted from June 2019 to August 2021 with investigator blinding at an urban academic cancer center and enrolled patients with breast cancer or head and neck cancer receiving radiation therapy (RT) with curative intent. Analysis was performed on January 7, 2022. Interventions: Intranasal mupirocin ointment twice daily and chlorhexidine body cleanser once daily for 5 days prior to RT and repeated for 5 days every 2 weeks through RT. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome as planned prior to data collection was the development of grade 2 or higher ARD. Based on wide clinical variability of grade 2 ARD, this was refined to grade 2 ARD with moist desquamation (grade 2-MD). Results: Of 123 patients assessed for eligibility via convenience sampling, 3 were excluded, and 40 refused to participate, with 80 patients in our final volunteer sample. Of 77 patients with cancer (75 patients with breast cancer [97.4%] and 2 patients with head and neck cancer [2.6%]) who completed RT, 39 were randomly assigned BC, and 38 were randomly assigned standard of care; the mean (SD) age of the patients was 59.9 (11.9) years, and 75 (97.4%) were female. Most patients were Black (33.7% [n = 26]) or Hispanic (32.5% [n = 25]). Among patients with breast cancer and patients with head and neck cancer (N = 77), none of the 39 patients treated with BD and 9 of the 38 patients (23.7%) treated with standard of care developed ARD grade 2-MD or higher (P = .001). Similar results were observed among the 75 patients with breast cancer (ie, none treated with BD and 8 [21.6%] receiving standard of care developed ARD grade ≥2-MD; P = .002). The mean (SD) ARD grade was significantly lower for patients treated with BD (1.2 [0.7]) compared with patients receiving standard of care (1.6 [0.8]) (P = .02). Of the 39 patients randomly assigned to BD, 27 (69.2%) reported regimen adherence, and only 1 patient (2.5%) experienced an adverse event related to BD (ie, itch). Conclusions and Relevance: The results of this randomized clinical trial suggest that BD is effective for ARD prophylaxis, specifically for patients with breast cancer. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03883828.

Association of Staphylococcus aureus Colonization With Severity of Acute Radiation Dermatitis in Patients With Breast or Head and Neck Cancer.

Importance: Pathogenesis of acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) is not completely understood. Pro-inflammatory cutaneous bacteria may contribute to cutaneous inflammation after radiation therapy. Objective: To evaluate whether nasal colonization with Staphylococcus aureus (SA) before radiation therapy is associated with ARD severity in patients with breast or head and neck cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study with observers blinded to colonization status was conducted from July 2017 to May 2018 at an urban academic cancer center. Patients aged 18 years or older with breast or head and neck cancer and plans for fractionated radiation therapy (≥15 fractions) with curative intent were enrolled via convenience sampling. Data were analyzed from September to October 2018. Exposures: Staphylococcus aureus colonization status before radiation therapy (baseline). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was ARD grade using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event Reporting, version 4.03. Results: Among 76 patients analyzed, mean (SD) age was 58.5 (12.6) years and 56 (73.7%) were female. All 76 patients developed ARD: 47 (61.8%) with grade 1, 22 (28.9%) with grade 2, and 7 (9.2%) with grade 3. The prevalence of baseline nasal SA colonization was higher among patients who developed grade 2 or higher ARD compared with those who developed grade 1 ARD (10 of 29 [34.5%] vs 6 of 47 [12.8%]; P = .02, by χ2 test). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, baseline nasal SA colonization was associated with development of grade 2 or higher ARD in patients with breast or head and neck cancer. The findings suggest that SA colonization may play a role in the pathogenesis of ARD.

Single-cell transcriptomics in dermatology.

The skin is an ecosystem composed of specialized cell types that work together to serve as a physical protective barrier. Single-cell resolution is therefore essential to deconvolve skin's heterogeneity by identifying novel, distinct cell subsets in health and disease. Single-cell RNA sequencing is a highly meticulous methodology used to study the distinct transcriptional profiles of each cell within large tissue libraries at uniquely high resolution. The investigative capabilities achieved by this methodology allow previously unattainable analyses, including identification of rare cell populations, evaluation of cell-to-cell variation, and the ability to track trajectories of distinct cell lineages through development. In the past decade, application of transcriptomic analysis to skin biology and dermatology has greatly advanced understanding of homeostatic physiology in the skin, as well as a multitude of dermatologic diseases. Single-cell RNA sequencing offers tremendous promise for identification of novel therapeutic targets in dermatologic diseases, with broad implications of improving therapeutic interventions.

Dermatologic Adverse Events of Systemic Anticancer Therapies: Cytotoxic Chemotherapy, Targeted Therapy, and Immunotherapy.

Over the past 2 decades, rapid advancement in systemic anticancer therapeutics has led to astounding improvement in survival rates of patients with cancer. However, this celebrated progress has brought with it an evolving spectrum of drug toxicities that limit their prodigious capabilities. Cutaneous adverse events are of the most frequent of these toxicities, with substantial impact on quality of life and commonly resulting in dose reduction or change in therapy. Thus, familiarity with the array of dermatologic manifestations caused by these drugs is prudent for patient treatment. As such, the advent of dedicated oncodermatologists, and their introduction into multidisciplinary cancer care, has been crucial in optimizing treatment through therapeutic achievement and overall well-being. This review will address the epidemiology, clinical presentations, and management strategies of the major dermatologic adverse events of systemic anticancer agents, including cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.