Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV
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J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · Sep 2015
ReviewOmalizumab may not inhibit mast cell and basophil activation in vitro.
In March 2014, omalizumab, a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, was approved for the treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). The primary mode of action of omalizumab is considered to be the reduction in free IgE serum levels and the subsequent down-regulation of FcεRI, the high affinity receptor for IgE, on mast cells and basophils. Recently, it has been suggested that most CSU patients have an autoimmune aetiology which may lead to chronic activation of mast cells and basophils. ⋯ Our results suggest that the rapid response to omalizumab therapy is more likely to result from the elimination of an activating signal rather than the generation of a negative, inhibitory signal.
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J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · Sep 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialImprovement of scalp and nail lesions with ixekizumab in a phase 2 trial in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.
Scalp and nail psoriasis have a major impact on quality of life and are traditionally resistant to therapy. Ixekizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets IL-17A, a key cytokine in psoriasis pathogenesis. ⋯ Ixekizumab monotherapy improved scalp psoriasis quickly with maintenance of clinical response and complete resolution of plaques in the majority of patients. Additionally, over 50.0% of patients with nail psoriasis experienced complete resolution of nail lesions by OLE week 48.
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J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · Aug 2015
Prognostic and predictive values of oncogenic BRAF, NRAS, c-KIT and MITF in cutaneous and mucous melanoma.
Mutations of BRAF, NRAS and c-KIT oncogenes are preferentially described in certain histological subtypes of melanoma and linked to specific histopathological features. BRAF-, MEK- and KIT-inhibitors led to improvement in overall survival of patients harbouring mutated metastatic melanoma. ⋯ Clinical and pathological characteristics of the primary melanoma differed between wild-type and BRAF- or NRAS-mutated tumours. Patients with BRAF-mutated tumours were younger at diagnosis of primary melanoma. Patients carrying mutations showed better responses better to specific kinase inhibitors and interestingly also to systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy.