Topical diphencyprone may affect melanoma metastases proteins

Source: Healio, March 2022

BOSTON — An increase in immune checkpoint proteins was observed in metastatic melanoma patients treated with topical diphencyprone, according to a study presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.

“Diphencyprone, or DPCD for short, has been used for many years to treat various dermatologic conditions including alopecia areata and warts, but more recently it’s been used as a treatment for cutaneous metastases of melanoma,” Nicholas Gulati, MD, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine and director of both the oncodermatology clinic and early detection of skin cancer clinic at Mount Sinai, told Healio. “In this study we focused on the proteomic signature of the reactions that this agent generates.”

Skin biopsies of skin metastases were taken at various time points, including before DPCP application and 30 days after completion of all applications. Non-melanoma skin was also biopsied after one DPCD application. Using the Olink immuno-oncology panel, 96 proteins were studied.

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