Alexander Meves, M.D., M.B.A.

The purpose of Part A of this study is to establish the feasibility of performing Marpé full body skin imaging at Mayo Clinic. The purpose of Part B of this study is to get a preliminary sense of the clinical utility of the approach.

The purpose of this study is to discover and validate DNA methylation-based markers that identify patients with metastatic melanoma based on the detection of such markers in patient blood with the ultimate goal of using blood-based multi-marker testing as a method of disease surveillance in melanoma patients.

The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which patients who survive severe drug eruptions suffer long-term end organ damage and experience decreased quality of life and psychological distress

Researchers are trying to find out more about the side effects of topical (applied to the skin) Pentamidine, to determine if it is safe for use in people. They also want to find out if topical use of Pentamidine can help treat hypertrophic scars. Pentamidine is a medicine that is currently used to treat certain kinds of infection. It is most often given by intravenous (into a vein) or inhalation (through a breathing device). This medication is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in these forms. Everyone in this study will receive topical Pentamidine (TP) in a silicone based gel (PCCA Pracasil Plus). Topical treatment of Pentamidine is still experimental and has not been formally tested for safety or effectiveness in a randomized control trial within the United States. The FDA has allowed the use of topical Pentamidine in this research study.

Cells with increased oncogene activity adopt a secretory phenotype. For example, increased levels of c-Src not only inhibit differentiation but also induce the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as fibronectin (1), a protein critically involved in cell migration. The abnormal secretion of ECM proteins stems from the inability of c-Src overexpressing cells to sense their environment and to act in-sync with local tissue demand, likely because of a constitutive activation of ECM biosensors such as focal adhesion kinase (FAK). We hypothesize that the secretion of ECM proteins is an early event in malignant transformation induced by increased oncogene activity, resulting from constitutive activation of signaling cascades that are otherwise responsive to changes of the extracellular environment. To test our hypothesis, and to exploit its consequences or diagnostic applications, we propose the following specific aims: