Incidence of different types of cancer in the follow-up period after primary diagnosis and treatment of melanoma. Single-centre 4-year follow-up on a population of 709 patients.

Introduction: Follow-up plays a key role in melanoma management, especially in the first years after diagnosis. During this period it is crucial to assess possible recurrence, progression of the disease or treatment complications. An important aspect is also the possibility of formation of new primary foci or other skin cancers. Aim: To assess the coincidence of skin lesions and cancers among the melanoma patients. Material and methods: Patients treated in the Comprehensive Cancer Centre between 2019 and 2022 were retrospectively analysed for occurrence of skin lesions diagnosed during the follow-up, and confirmed by biopsy. The lesions considered included skin cancers, dysplastic nevus and actinic keratosis. Results: In 100 (14%) out of 709 enrolled patients, 184 lesions were diagnosed. In 7 patients it was melanoma, in 49 BCC, and in 16 SCC. Dysplastic nevus and actinic keratosis were excised in 28 and 14 patients, respectively. More than one site of the skin lesion was observed in 39 patients, and more than one type of the lesion in 13 patients. Patients with lesions were on average 8.6 years older (p < 0.001), had less advanced tumours (p = 0.010), and primary melanoma was more often located on the head and neck (p = 0.056). Conclusions: Among melanoma patients, particular attention must be paid to, apart from early detection of melanoma recurrence and progression, the occurrence of new primary foci or independent skin cancers.

The Current Treatment Trends and Survival Patterns in Melanoma Patients with Positive Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB): A Multicenter Nationwide Study.

BACKGROUND: In melanoma treatment, an approach following positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been recently deescalated from completion lymph node dissection (CLND) to active surveillance based on phase III trials data. In this study, we aim to evaluate treatment strategies in SLNB-positive melanoma patients in real-world practice. METHODS: Five-hundred-fifty-seven melanoma SLNB-positive patients from seven comprehensive cancer centers treated between 2017 and 2021 were included. Kaplan-Meier methods and the Cox Proportional-Hazards Model were used for analysis. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 25 months. Between 2017 and 2021, the percentage of patients undergoing CLND decreased (88-41%), while the use of adjuvant treatment increased (11-51%). The 3-year OS and RFS rates were 77.9% and 59.6%, respectively. Adjuvant therapy prolonged RFS (HR:0.69, p = 0.036)), but CLND did not (HR:1.22, p = 0.272). There were no statistically significant differences in OS for either adjuvant systemic treatment or CLND. Lower progression risk was also found, and time-dependent hazard ratios estimation in patients treated with systemic adjuvant therapy was confirmed (HR:0.20, p = 0.002 for BRAF inhibitors and HR:0.50, p = 0.015 for anti-PD-1 inhibitors). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of SLNB-positive melanoma patients is constantly evolving, and the role of surgery is currently rather limited. Whether CLND has been performed or not, in a group of SLNB-positive patients, adjuvant systemic treatment should be offered to all eligible patients.

Introduction of a pilot program to measure and improve the clinical care of melanoma patients in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship in Poland: a report of 20 months experience.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, benchmarking and assessment methods to improve the quality of care have become increasingly important. Such approaches allow for a uniform assessment, comparisons between centers or over time, and the identification of weaknesses. In this study, the results of a 20-month pilot program to assess, monitor and improve the quality of care in melanoma patients primarily treated surgically are presented. METHODS: The pilot program started in May 2020 at the Lower Silesian Oncology, Pulmonology and Hematology Center (LSOPHC) in Wroclaw, Poland (Lower Silesian Voivodeship, southwestern province of Poland with a population of 2,9 million). The program involved the introduction of a synoptic histopathological protocol, medical coordinators, and a set of measures to assess oncological care. In total, 11 Skin Cancer Unit (SCU) measures were introduced to analyze clinical outcomes, diagnostic quality, and duration. Data from 352 patients covered by the program were analyzed. In addition, the completeness of diagnostics from external sites was compared to our own results. Furthermore, the timeliness of the initial diagnostic tests and in-depth diagnostics were assessed and compared to the timeliness before implementation of the pilot program. RESULTS: The introduced measures assessed the mortality related to oncological treatment, the rate of complications, advanced stages of melanoma, the completeness and duration of diagnostics, the involved nodes after lymphadenectomy, and melanoma screening. During the study period, the timeliness of the initial diagnostics was maintained at 87.8%, and the timeliness of the in-depth diagnostics at 89.5%. Compared to a similar period before the program, these values were 36.1% and 67.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The introduced measures seem to be effective and practical tools for benchmarking clinical and diagnostic aspects. They also allowed for a sensitive assessment of individual issues and indicated sensitive points. Furthermore, the actions undertaken in this pilot program allowed for a shortening of the duration of diagnostics.

An analysis of clinical effectiveness of electrochemotherapy in the treatment of advanced metastatic malignant melanoma performed in the eastern part of Central Europe: a single-centre experience.

Introduction: Patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM), in case of non-resectability of the lesions, have only a limited pool of the available treatment options. In recent years especially electrochemotherapy (ECT) has become an increasingly important therapy in locoregionally advanced MM. Aim: In this study an analysis of the ECT treatment of locoregionally advanced malignant melanoma was presented. Material and methods: Six ECT cycles in 5 patients were performed in the Wroclaw Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Treatment response, long-term observation, technical data downloaded from electroporator and photographs taken before and after the ECT were assessed in the analysis. Results: In total, 200 nodules in 5 patients were treated with ECT in palliative intent. After 5 out of 6 ECT cycles, the particular clinical response has been observed. Four patients with primary unresectable lesions underwent 11 surgeries of the cutaneous metastases. In long-term follow-up in 2 patients, of whom one died 19 months after the ECT, the disease progressed and in another two, no recurrence was observed. Conclusions: ECT is an encouraging therapy for patients in whom the recurrent cutaneous melanoma cannot be treated with other methods, however, access to this method in eastern part of Central Europe is limited. The presented study seems to confirm the usefulness of this palliative approach in a specific group of patients suffering from cutaneous MM.

The report and analysis concerning the usefulness of basic telemedicine tools in the skin cancer diagnostic screening process during COVID-19 pandemics.

Introduction: A rapid spread of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic limited the availability of professional medical advice. As a result, a significant increase in the number of undiagnosed and chronically ill patients without medical care was noticed. In reaction to the urgent need, the telemedical consultation, instead of the classical form, may be introduced as a vulnerable tool in preclinical evaluation of patients with potentially malignant skin lesions. Aim: In this study the results of the implementation of telemedical consultation programme with the intention to early detect the skin cancers in patients who, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, could not undergo the standard consultation was presented. Material and methods: The programme of remote dermatological consultation, which was introduced on 1 June 2020, covered all patients who had no possibility or will to visit the standard healthcare units. In case of suspicion of life-threatening skin lesions patients were invited for additional diagnostics or surgery. Obtained data, including demography, age, surgery description and pathomorphological examination were descriptively analysed. Results: In total, 80 consecutive patients were enrolled during the screening programme. In total, 31 lesions in 25 patients were excised. In this group there were 10 serious diagnoses including 5 cases of basal cell carcinoma, melanoma in situ and dysplastic nevi. Moreover, another 10 patients were referred to other specialists or specific recommendations were advised. Conclusions: An alternative track using teledermatology for patients with skin diseases was successfully introduced under the specific conditions of epidemiologic danger. Despite its disadvantages teledermatology enabled the diagnosis and treatment in a significant number of serious cases.

Survival of patients with stage IIIC and IIID melanomas with nodal metastases in the light of new therapies.

Introduction: Within stage III melanoma prognosis and outcomes significantly vary. Advances in systemic therapy improved prognosis in metastatic melanoma. Adjuvant therapy in stage III significantly lowered relapses, although the effect on survival is less evident. Analysis of treatment results in stage IIIC and IIID before introduction of the modern adjuvant therapy, but after introduction of the effective systemic therapy in metastatic relapse, is needed. Aim: To analyse the clinical outcomes in patients with stage IIIC and IIID melanoma before the introduction of the novel adjuvant therapy. Material and methods: Consecutive stage IIIC and IIID melanoma patients treated in 2015-2018 in 4 reference centres in Poland were enrolled in the analysis of RFS and OS (in-transit metastases excluded). Median follow-up was 26.6 months (1.7-67.2). Results: There were 224 stage IIIC and 49 stage IIID patients. Recurrence was observed in 170 (62.2%); 102 (45.5%) deaths in stage IIIC and 28 (57.1%) in stage IIID were reported. RFS and OS were better in stage IIIC compared to stage IIID. RFS and OS in the IIIC group were 19.7 and 36.2 months, respectively, and in IIID - 8.9 and 27.8 months, respectively. Conclusions: The survival of patients with high-risk melanomas has improved in recent years, however, it is still unsatisfactory. The major changes in melanoma management related to the introduction of the adjuvant therapy require further careful observation.

Porphyrin Based 2D-MOF Structures as Dual-Kinetic Sorafenib Nanocarriers for Hepatoma Treatment.

The existing clinical protocols of hepatoma treatment require improvement of drug efficacy that can be achieved by harnessing nanomedicine. Porphyrin-based, paddle-wheel framework (PPF) structures were obtained and tested as dual-kinetic Sorafenib (SOR) nanocarriers against hepatoma. We experimentally proved that sloughing of PPF structures combined with gradual dissolving are effective mechanisms for releasing the drug from the nanocarrier. By controlling the PPF degradation and size of adsorbed SOR deposits, we were able to augment SOR anticancer effects, both in vitro and in vivo, due to the dual kinetic behavior of SOR@PPF. Obtained drug delivery systems with slow and fast release of SOR influenced effectively, although in a different way, the cancer cells proliferation (reflected with EC50 and ERK 1/2 phosphorylation level). The in vivo studies proved that fast-released SOR@PPF reduces the tumor size considerably, while the slow-released SOR@PPF much better prevents from lymph nodes involvement and distant metastases.

Additive manufacturing technologies enabling rapid and interventional production of protective face shields and masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted through respiratory droplets and contact routes, hence the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) has increased during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Among the most noticeable shortages was the lack of face shields. The urgent demand for PPE induced interdisciplinary cooperation to overcome the shortages, and additive manufacturing proved to be ideal for the crisis situation. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the possibilities of implementing additive manufacturing technologies in the interventional fabrication of protective face shields for medical staff. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An Ender 3 Pro 3D printer was used to print headbands and Cura 4.4 was chosen as the slicing software. Open source face shield designs were downloaded as standard tessellation language (STL) files and compared. Only models with scientific support were taken under consideration. RESULTS: The mean time for producing the headbands tested ranged from 59 min to almost 3 h, depending on the design. After setting up our low budget printer and choosing the Prusa RC 3 protective face shield as the main product, we were able to fabricate about 30 face shields per week at a cost of about €1 each. During 4 weeks, 126 face shields were produced and delivered to various hospital wards, which substantially eased the shortages. CONCLUSIONS: Additive manufacturing enables immediate responses to needs in emergency situations, and allows for mass production of personal protective equipment in a short time due the rapid exchange of data among printer users. Despite the unregulated legal situation and insufficient scientific evidence, such protective equipment has been approved by clinicians and is currently used by medical personnel around the world.