Nevus sebaceus is frequently associated with the development of secondary neoplasms. Incidences of malignant transformation vary among different reports and few data is available regarding Asian populations. We aimed to determine the characteristics of secondary tumors developing from nevus sebaceus in a Taiwanese population and to review the published work. Patients with clinically and histologically confirmed nevus sebaceus were identified from 1992 to 2012 in a medical center. Among the 450 cases of nevus sebaceus, 38 secondary neoplasms were noted, accounting for 8.5% of all cases. Benign tumors represented more than 80% of all tumors. Syringocystadenoma papilliferum (2.7%) was the most common benign tumor, followed by trichoblastoma (1.6%) and trichilemmoma (1.6%) whereas basal cell carcinoma (0.9%) was the most frequent malignant tumor on nevus sebaceus and its clinical features were not typical. All the malignant tumors on nevus sebaceus were noted only in adulthood and the mean age of those with basal cell carcinoma was significantly older than that of trichoblastoma (P = 0.028). Our study concludes that malignant transformation is rare in nevus sebaceus and occurs uniquely in adulthood. On the basis of the findings, prophylactic excision of nevus sebaceus can be elective during childhood but is strongly advocated at puberty due to the increased risk of malignant transformation with time.

IGF II mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP-3) has been reported to be a marker of melanoma progression. However, the mechanisms by which it impacts melanoma are incompletely understood. In this study, we investigate the clinical significance of IMP-3 in melanoma progression and also its underlying mechanisms. We found that IMP-3 expression was much higher in advanced-stage/metastatic melanomas and that it was associated with a poor prognosis (P=0.001). Univariate analysis showed that IMP-3 expression was associated with stage III/IV melanomas (odds ratio=5.40, P=0.031) and the acral lentiginous subtype (odds ratio=3.93, P=0.0034). MeWo cells with overexpression of IMP-3 showed enhanced proliferation and migration and significantly increased tumorigenesis and metastatic ability in nude mice. We further demonstrated that IMP-3 could bind and enhance the stability of the mRNA of high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2). It was also confirmed that IMP-3 had an important role in melanoma invasion and metastasis through regulating HMGA2 mRNA expression. IMP-3 expression was positively correlated with HMGA2 expression in melanoma cells and also in melanoma tissues. Our results show that IMP-3 expression is a strong prognostic factor for melanoma, especially acral lentiginous melanoma.

The cytochrome P1(450) (P450IA1) cDNA has been isolated and sequenced from liver of 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). The cDNA hybridizes to a 2.8-kb mRNA that is induced at least 10-fold by 3-methylcholanthrene. Southern blot analysis suggests the presence of a single gene or a very small number of genes. An open reading frame of the 2573-bp cDNA encodes a 522-residue protein (Mr = 59,241) that is more similar to the mammalian P450IA1 than the mammalian P450IA2 proteins. The aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor, responsible for mammalian P450IA1 and IA2 inducibility, was detected in trout liver cytosol by specific binding to [1,6-3H]2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in vitro. Comparison of the fish P450IA1 protein with human, mouse, rat and rabbit P450IA1 and P450IA2 proteins reveals the presence of a remarkably large number of single amino acids and stretches of 2-6 residues in a row that are invariant among these nine P450 proteins. These conserved regions may participate in the binding of the NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase flavoprotein, substrate, or heme.

Summary Background Acral melanoma (AM) is the most common histopathological subtype of malignant melanoma in Asians. However, differences in the mutational profiles underlying AM and nonacral cutaneous melanoma (NAM) in Asians are not well understood. Objectives To augment the understanding of the prevalence, patterns and associations of various mutations between different subtypes of melanoma. Methods We performed comprehensive genomic profiling of 409 cancer‐associated genes, using next‐generation sequencing, in 66 primary melanomas comprised of 45 AMs and 21 NAMs. Results Most of the AMs (n = 27/45; 60%), but only five of 21 (24%) NAMs, were triple wild‐type (triple‐WT) tumours. Compared with AMs, NAMs exhibited a significantly higher frequency of BRAF mutations. The frequencies of NRAS/KRAS mutations, cell‐cycle aberrations, copy number gains in BIRC2, BIRC3 and BIRC5, and gains of receptor tyrosine kinase genes were significantly higher in AMs. Ulceration was found at significantly higher rates in the AMs and NAMs with cell‐cycle aberrations and gains of receptor tyrosine kinase genes. Notably, cell‐cycle aberrations and copy number gains in BIRC2, BIRC3 and BIRC5 were significantly associated with poor melanoma‐specific survival in the 66 patients with melanoma and especially in the 45 patients with AM. Multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis and cell‐cycle aberrations were independent prognostic factors of melanoma‐specific survival. Conclusions This study strengthens our understanding of the patterns and clinical associations of oncogenic mutations in AMs and NAMs in Asians. What's already known about this topic? Mutation frequencies of driver genes vary between melanoma subtypes. Acral melanoma is the most common subtype of melanoma in Asians. KIT mutations and copy number variations occur more frequently in the acral subtype of melanoma than in the nonacral subtype What does this study add? NRAS/KRAS mutations, cell‐cycle aberrations, copy number gains in BIRC2, BIRC3 and BIRC5, and amplifications of receptor tyrosine kinase genes were significantly enriched in acral melanoma and could be potential targets for treatment. Melanomas with cell‐cycle aberrations and gains in receptor tyrosine kinase genes were significantly more likely to contain ulceration. What is the translational message? Cell‐cycle aberrations and copy number gains in BIRC2, BIRC3 and BIRC5 were significantly associated with poor melanoma‐specific survival. These observations should be explored further for future drug development.

As BRAF and NRAS mutations are rare in Taiwan, BRAF- or NRAS-targeted therapies may be effective only for selected Taiwanese melanoma patients.

These results suggest that hair follicles respond to visible light in vivo. Red light may promote physiological telogen to anagen transition by directly stimulating outer root sheath keratinocytes and indirectly by enhancing epithelial-mesenchymal interaction in vitro.

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) have been widely used to treat non-small cell lung cancer. Four major skin toxic effects with different incidences have been reported from clinical studies, including acneiform eruption (60%-94%), pruritus (16%-60%), xerosis (4%-38%), and paronychia (6%-12%). 1,2 However, a direct comparison of the incidences and severities of the 4 types of skin toxic effects for 3 different EGFR-TKIs in the same patient cohort has been lacking to date.

The pathogenesis of melanomas emerging in plantar surfaces remains unclear; however, mechanical stress has been reported to increase the formation of melanomas. In this study, we conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis of 153 acral melanomas diagnosed between 2000 and 2015 in Taiwan. The male-to-female ratio of the patients in question was 1:1.28, and the mean age at diagnosis was 68 years. We examined whether melanomas which developed in different areas of the patients’ soles differed in their associations with various clinicopathological characteristics and survival. Testing by goodness of fit indicated that stress-bearing areas were significantly more conducive to the generation of melanomas than non-stress-bearing areas (P < 0.0001). More specifically, compared to the arch, the rear of the foot and front of the foot were significantly more conducive to the generation of melanomas (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The distribution pattern was not associated with differences in age, gender, right/left foot involvement, ulceration, mitosis, lymph node metastasis, tumor thickness, or stage. The overall, distant metastasis-free, and recurrence-free survival rates did not differ significantly between the stress-bearing and non-stress-bearing areas. Furthermore, while acral melanomas tended to develop on stress-bearing areas, the distribution pattern was not associated with the prognostic index or survival.