• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4335-4339
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• 2012

Background: Whether sirolimus is useful in the prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) remains unclear and we therefore performed this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to test the hypothesis that Sirolimus-based immunosuppression is associated with a decrease in NMSC. Methods: The main outcomes were NMSC, squamous-cell carcinoma and basal-cell carcinoma. The pooled risk ratio (RR) with its 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were used to assess the effects. Results: 5 randomized trials involving a total of 1499 patients receiving kidney transplantation were included. Patients undergoing Sirolimus-based immunosuppression had much lower risk of NMSC (RR = 0.49, 95%CI 0.32-0.76, P = 0.001). Subgroup analyses by tumor type showed that Sirolimus-based immunosuppression significantly decreased risk of both squamous-cell carcinoma (RR = 0.58, 95%CI 0.43-0.78, P < 0.001) and basal-cell carcinoma (RR = 0.56, 95%CI 0.37-0.85, P = 0.006). The quality of evidence was high for NMSC, and moderate for squamous-cell carcinoma and basal-cell carcinoma. No evidence of publication bias was observed. Conclusion: High quality evidence suggests that Sirolimus-based immunosuppression decreases risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, and Sirolimus has an antitumoral effect among kidney-transplant recipients.

• Journal of the Korean Medical Association
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• v.61 no.11
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• pp.662-669
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• 2018

The cutaneous melanoma has been regarded as rare disease entity in Korea for long time but it shows a silent growth recently. Furthermore the management of cutaneous melanoma including staging system, surgical principle, sentinel lymph node biopsy and subsequent complete node dissection and, most importantly, immunotherapy and target therapy against cutaneous melanoma recently. The incidence of cutaneous melanoma is steadily increasing in Korea but its increase is rapid recent 2 decades to 4.3 times and should be greater soon according to the steeper increase of life expectancy. New staging system proposed by American Joint Committee on Cancer (2017) includes changes in individual TNM category and stage groups, particularly from a prognostic viewpoint. Dermoscopy has been successfully introduced in the differential diagnosis of pigmented skin lesion focusing on cutaneous melanoma by non-invasive simple diagnostic tool. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was a issue of long debate whether survival benefit is real or not. Temporary conclusion about this question is reached after two large scale studies and immediate complete node dissection should be performed in a certain situations. Most important change is drug therapy focusing on immunotherapy and target therapy. Braf- and MEK-inhibitor, immune checkpoint inhibitor and PD-1 blocker has been proved to be effective as a sole or combination regimen against advanced and/or high-risk adjuvant setting of cutaneous melanoma. In conclusion, these remarkable changes will be reviewed shortly here.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.3051-3056
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• 2015

Background: Skin self-examination (SSE) may facilitate early diagnosis of melanoma at a potentially curable stage. Little data are available concerning the SSE frequency and knowledge about the symptoms of melanoma in non-patient populations. The aim of our study was to assess the performance of skin self-examination, recognition of potential melanoma symptoms as well as behavior related to sun exposure among web users in Poland. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among readers of a scientific portal. Invited respondents were asked to complete an online questionnaire. Finally, statistical analysis was conducted on 4,919 surveys towards potential clinical signs of melanoma and SSE performance. Results: Approximately 60% of respondents had ever performed SSE in their life. Only 18.4 % declared performance on a regular, monthly, basis. Factors promoting this activity were established to be bigger place of residence, higher education and sensitive skin phototype, higher level of knowledge concerning melanoma, safe tanning rules and, especially, past surgical excision of naevi. Declared longer use of tanning beds was linked to understanding better the importance of clinical features of melanoma. Awareness of hazardous behavior during sunbathing is associated with the attempts to change them. Conclusions: Regular SSE is not a common practice, whilst the knowledge about the clinical features of melanoma is varied. Therefore, constant pressure should be put on promotion of regular skin self-examination and teaching its proper techniques, including familiarity with the ABCD (asymmetry; border; color; diameter) rule and its extension of "EFG" (elevated, firm, progressive growth) criteria.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.445-451
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• 2021

Salicylamide, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is used as an analgesic and antipyretic agent. We have previously shown that several NSAIDs have anti-melanogenic properties in B16F1 melanoma cells. In contrast, we have found that salicylamide enhances melanin contents in B16F1 melanoma cells; however, the underlying mechanism is not known. Therefore, we investigated the mechanism through which salicylamide stimulates melanogenesis. Interestingly, salicylamide enhanced diphenolase activity in a cell-free assay. Western blotting and real-time RT-PCR revealed that salicylamide increased tyrosinase expression via transcriptional activation of the Mitf gene. Together, our results indicate that salicylamide could be used as an anti-hypopigmentation agent for skin and/or hair.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.3
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• pp.272-275
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• 2015

Malignant melanoma occurs most frequently on the skin. However, it can also arise in other organs and tissues of the body. Primary pulmonary malignant melanoma is a very rare non-epithelial neoplasm accounting for 0.01% of all primary pulmonary tumors. The treatment of choice is surgical resection of the tumor with an oncologically adequate margin as in lobectomy or pneumonectomy. The prognosis of this condition is rather poor. Based on previous data, its 5-year survival is at least 10%. Here, we report a case of an 82-year-old woman whose primary pulmonary melanoma was detected incidentally.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2018

Objectives: Desmoplastic melanoma of the oral cavity is an extremely rare condition that is often confused on initial diagnosis with non-melanotic benign lesion or spindle cell tumors. The purpose of this article was to raise awareness of the disease using a literature review. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 19 desmoplastic melanoma cases reported in the literature and added our experience. Data on clinical, histopathology, treatment, and survival were retrieved and analyzed. Survival analysis was by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Initial clinical and histopathological features were indistinctive, and a definite diagnosis of desmoplastic melanoma at initial assessment was possible in only 23.5% of cases. Among tests, immunohistochemical studies for S-100 and vimentin were all positive. The 5-year disease-free survival rate for oral desmoplastic melanoma was 0%, and the 5-year overall survival rate was 55.0%. Conclusion: Oral desmoplastic melanoma has a high percentage of initial misdiagnosis and propensity for local recurrence. Thus, careful initial diagnosis and adequate surgery may result in improved overall survival.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.30-47
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• 2015

Objective : Melanoma is a very critical and devastating disease. Although many people have depended on surgical operation in melanoma treatment, they have placed importance on non-invasive methods constantly. So we planned to establish a research methodology by analysing existing articles containing conservative melanoma treatments in Journals of Korean Medicine published in Korea.Methods : Using search words of anti-cancer, B16, cancer, lung metastasis, melanoma, metastasis, S-100, SK-MEL, tumor, tyrosinase, we collected 26 articles by searching internet portal sites as following;Using search words of anti-cancer, B16, cancer, lung metastasis, melanoma, metastasis, S-100, SK-MEL, tumor, tyrosinase, we collected 26 articles by searching internet portal sites as followinghttp://oasis.kiom.re.kr,http://www.koreantk.com,http://www.riss.kr,http://www.dbpia.co.kr,http://www.ndsl.kr,http://kiss.kstudy.com,http://www.naver.com,http://www.google.com.Result : The number of articles is 26 and in the year of 2003, 2004 is ranked the highest number in publication. The journal of acupuncture & moxibustion society ranked the highest(30.8%). 2 and 4 authors ranked the highest(26.9%) in number of authors. T-test ranked the highest(58.1%) in statistics methods. P.O. med indicated in 11 articles and Pharmacopuncture in 15 articles. B16 murine melanoma cell was indicated in 25 articles by cancer-induced methods. In measurement, T cell activity was indicated in 14 articles, NK activity in 4 articles, IL-2 in 6 articles, apoptosis in 1 article, lung metastasis in 14 articles.Conclusion : Considering overall results, it is necessary to diversify cancer-induced methods and measurement methods in experimental melanoma research.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.302-309
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• 2001

Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) pectin, which binds to human melanoma cell line, was conjugated with Praecoxin A using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide as a cross-linking agent. Physical mixture (PM) of WGA and Praecoxin A was also prepared by using a non-specific binding property of Praecoxin A to WGA. The WGA:Praecoxin A ratio in the conjugate and PM was approximately 1:18 and 1:20, respectively. The results of hemagglutination assay and enzyme-linked lectin assay indicated that the conjugate and PM maintained the lectin-like properties of the WGA. The binding ratio of conjugate was about 70% during 4-24 hr, but the most of Praecoxin A was released within 24 hr in the case of PM. These results lead to the conclusion that the conjugate is potentially useful for the formulation of injection that requires targeting for melanoma as well as sustained release at the site.

• Korean Journal of Korean Medical Institute of Dermatology and Aesthetics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the aqueous extract of the Astragalus membranaceous(AM). AM showed inhibitory effect on the tyrosinase activity using L-tyrosine as a substrate. Tyrosinase plays an important role in the process of melanin polymer biosynthesis. In vitro AM extract(1mg/ml) inhibited melanin biosynthesis and are useful for the material used in cosmetics. B16 mouse melanoma cells were cultured in different concentrations. The non-cytotoxicity of the plant extracts was confirmed by MTT assay.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5229-5232
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• 2012

The incidence of malignant melanoma increases with age. One significiant effect of aging processes is an accumulation of oxidative damage in the genetical material. In this study, the relationship between malignant melanoma and damage in chromosomes and proliferative effectiveness of human peripheral lymphocytes were investigated by the micronucleus (MN) technique. A total of 15 malignant melanoma patients and appropriately matching 15 healthy controls were involved in the study. MN frequencies and proliferative indexes (PI) after non toxic levels of hydrogen peroxide treatment were also measured to determine damaging effect of oxidative stress in genome in addition to measuring the spontenous levels of micronuclei and PI. The patient group had a significantly higher rate of spontaneous MN than the control group (p<0.01). After treatment with $H_2O_2$, MN frequencies in the patient group was significantly decreased (p<0.01) although there was no difference between the treated and untreated results of control group (p=0.29). There was also difference (p<0.01) between the MN frequencies of the patient and the control group either in the spontaneous levels or in the $H_2O_2$ treated groups. The same significant difference persisted when the PI values were compared between patient and control groups. Increase in the MN frequency in patients could mean the alterations in the chromosomal structure which may lead to the chromosome instability and therefore genetic susceptibility to cancer. This increased number of micronuclei can also be used for cytological marker in identifying high risk cases for malignant melanoma.