Skin melanoma: an analytical literature review and clinical cases

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Abstract

Melanoma, a malignant melanocytic tumor, remains one of the most aggressive forms of malignant skin tumors and is a significant public health problem. Despite progress in early diagnosis and treatment, melanoma continues to be the leading cause of death from skin cancer. The development of skin melanoma (SM) is a multistage process involving a complex relationship between genetic mutations, signaling pathways, and the tumor microenvironment. The main risk factors for SM remain unchanged, including ultraviolet radiation, genetic predisposition, phenotype, immunosuppression, and patient age. Advances in molecular biology have identified key signaling pathways involved in the development of SM. Mutations in the BRAF, NRAS, KIT, and NF1 genes are the most common. Melanoma is characterized by a complex interaction with the immune system. The cellular immune response, which involves cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), is important for tumor control, but melanoma is able to suppress this response. SM is a complex and heterogeneous disease. In recent years, significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms and developing new treatments. However, further research to improve treatment outcomes and prevent this disease is required. Early diagnosis is critical for a favorable prognosis. The authors present clinical cases of melanocytic skin cancer from personal practice.

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About the authors

Aleksey A. Khryanin

Novosibirsk State Medical University; RPO “Association of Obstetricians-Gynecologists and Dermatovenerologists”

Author for correspondence.
Email: khryanin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9248-8303

Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor of the Department of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology

Russian Federation, Novosibirsk; Novosibirsk

Aleksandr P. Nadeev

Novosibirsk State Medical University

Email: khryanin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0400-1011

Dr.Sci. (Med.), Head of the Department of Pathological Anatomy

Russian Federation, Novosibirsk

Asya V. Sokolovskaya

Novosibirsk State Medical University

Email: khryanin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3131-7874

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor, Department of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology

Russian Federation, Novosibirsk

Nadezhda E. Vorobyova

Medical Center “Microbiomed”

Email: khryanin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7811-5049

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Dermatovenereologist

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

Evgeniya V. Chernikova

Novosibirsk State Medical University

Email: khryanin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9297-6064

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Associate Professor, Department of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology

Russian Federation, Novosibirsk

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Supplementary files

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2. Figure 1. Patient Е., 76 years old, melanoma of the skin of the back

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3. Figure 2. Patient Е., 76 years old after surgical treatment of melanoma of the skin of the back

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4. Figure 3. In the skin under the epidermis large tumor cells of cubic or polygonal and less often, spindle-shaped shapes with sign of an atypical structure (cell polymorphism mitoses) grow; a moderate amount о dark-brown pigment, which lies freely in th( form of lumps, stained with hematoxylir and eosin. Magnification x200

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5. Figure 4. Patient А., 32 years old, melanoma of the skin of the auricle

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