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Background Data in East Asian patients and in other epithelial skin cancers, including extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) and adnexal carcinomas, are scarce. Therefore, we conducted a phase II trial of nivolumab in Japanese patients with advanced non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). Patients and methods This multicentre, open-label, single-arm phase II study enrolled adults (≥ 20 years) with histologically confirmed unresectable or recurrent epithelial cutaneous malignancies, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0–1, and at least one measurable lesion (RECIST v1.1). Nivolumab 480 mg was administered intravenously every 4 weeks for up to 26 cycles. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR), assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR; RECIST v1.1). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival, overall survival, and safety. Results Thirty-one patients were enrolled (20 cSCC, 4 EMPD, 2 BCC, 5 other NMSCs); median age was 73 years (range 58–86), and 71% were male. ORR by BICR was 22.6% (7/31), and the disease control rate was 54.8% (17/31). Responses were durable, with a median duration of 21.3 months. In the cSCC cohort, median tumour mutational burden (TMB) was 9.0 mut/Mb, lower than in Western series; among three patients with TMB ≥ 30 mut/Mb, two achieved objective responses. Common adverse events included pyrexia, hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, and pruritus. Conclusions Nivolumab showed durable antitumour activity with manageable toxicity in Japanese patients with advanced NMSCs, including rare non-cSCC. The lower ORR compared with Western trials may reflect intrinsic biological differences and support biomarker-driven, region-specific immunotherapy. Clinical trial registration jRCT2031190048; registered 2 July 2019.

Angiosarcoma of the head and neck (ASHN) is one of the most aggressive malignancies of the skin, but the prognostic factors are not well known because of its rarity. Recently, high plasma fibrinogen levels were reported to predict poor prognosis in several malignancies. In the present retrospective study, we suggest that low plasma fibrinogen levels predict poor prognosis for ASHN.

Pembrolizumab has been found effective against various solid tumors with high tumor mutation burden, but there are no reports of successful treatment with pembrolizumab for extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) with a high tumor mutation burden (TMB). This report describes a 71-year-old male patient who presented with irregularly shaped erythematous lesions on his scrotum, which had been there for several years. He was diagnosed with EMPD. A gene panel test indicated a high TMB. Six months after radical surgery, many lymph node metastases were found. We started a combination chemotherapy of tegafur-gimeracil-oteracil potassium (TS-1) and docetaxel. After three courses, a CT scan showed reductions in the sizes of all the metastatic lesions. However, the treatment was switched to pembrolizumab at the patient's request. After four cycles of the pembrolizumab treatment, a CT scan showed further shrinkage in most of the lymph node metastases. As far as we know, the present patient is the first case of advanced EMPD with response to pembrolizumab monotherapy.

BackgroundMalignant melanoma (MM) is a rare but aggressive cutaneous cancer, accounting for only 2% of skin cancers in Japan but nearly half of skin cancer-related deaths. While the global incidence of MM is rising, its epidemiology varies significantly by ethnicity and geographic region. In Japan, melanoma incidence remains lower than in Western countries, with acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) being the most prevalent subtype. However, comprehensive epidemiological and clinical data remain limited.MethodsWe analyzed data from 7442 Japanese melanoma patients collected between 2005 and 2022 through the Japanese Melanoma Study (JMS). Demographic, clinical, and survival data were evaluated, including subtype distribution, TNM staging, and treatment outcomes.ResultsALM was the most common subtype (40.8%), followed by superficial spreading melanoma (20.2%). Lymph node metastasis was observed in 28.6% of cases, and distant metastasis in 10.9%. The BRAF mutation rate was 27.2%, with significantly lower frequencies in ALM (8.5%) and mucosal melanoma (4.8%). Among Stage IV patients, those treated with both immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and BRAF(+ MEK) inhibitors demonstrated significantly improved survival compared to chemotherapy alone (P < 0.05). Adjuvant BRAF(+ MEK) inhibitor therapy also resulted in superior relapse-free survival compared to those who did not receive adjuvant therapy (P < 0.005).ConclusionThis study provides the largest dataset of Japanese melanoma patients to date, highlighting distinct epidemiological and clinical characteristics. Given their lower BRAF mutation rates and the limited efficacy of current ICI treatments, these findings emphasize the urgent need for optimize immunotherapy strategies in Japanese melanoma patients.

Although scrofuloderma is the most common subtype of cutaneous tuberculosis, its diagnosis is often delayed. In this case, ciprofloxacin was first administered as only Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected by initial culture tests. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is usually susceptible to quinolone antibiotics, hence the partial improvement in inflammatory symptoms and subsequent delay in diagnosis. Our case serves as a reminder that we should always be aware of the possibility of cutaneous tuberculosis being the cause of an abscess, especially when the abscess is not completely resolved by antibiotics. Moreover, our case reminds us that it is necessary to conduct repeated culture tests, rather than relying purely on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results, given that cases of PCR-negative acid-fast bacilli (AFB) culture-positive scrofuloderma have been reported. Fine needle aspiration is a less invasive and useful way to collect culture samples.

Abstract Background While immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment, they can trigger severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The safety and efficacy of ICI retreatment after severe irAEs remain poorly understood. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1271 patients with malignancies treated with ICIs at a university hospital in Japan between September 2014 and June 2023. We evaluated the incidence and characteristics of severe irAEs, defined as grade ≥3, and the safety and efficacy of ICI retreatment. Results Severe irAEs occurred in 222 patients (17.5%). Patients with single endocrinopathies were excluded, and 46 (28.4%) of the remaining 162 patients underwent ICI retreatment. Upon retreatment, 14 patients (30.4%) experienced recurrent or new grade ≥2 irAEs. One patient who experienced hepatotoxicity (grade 3) at initial ICI treatment developed a recurrence (grade 4). Regarding antitumor response, the objective response rate to retreatment was 28.3% (13/46), with 10.9% achieving complete and 17.4% partial response. The median duration of ICI administration after retreatment was 218 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: 84-399). At 1 year after retreatment, 15.4% (95% CI: 6.8-27.4) of patients discontinued due to irAEs, 44.4% (95% CI: 29.7-58.1) due to disease progression, 6.6% (95% CI: 1.7-16.3) completed planned treatment, and 33.4% (95% CI: 20.3-47.2) continued treatment. Conclusions ICI retreatment after severe irAEs demonstrated a manageable safety profile and promising efficacy, even in patients with grade ≥3 irAEs. ICI retreatment may be a viable option for patients with limited alternatives, particularly those showing favorable antitumor responses at initial treatment. Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract

BackgroundAnti-programmed cell death-1 (ligand-1) antibody [PD-(L)1-Ab] can cause destructive thyroiditis and/or hypothyroidism. In addition, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) frequently induce hypothyroidism. The aim of this prospective study is to examine the incidence and clinical characteristics of thyroid dysfunction induced by combination therapy of a PD-(L)1-Ab and TKI [PD-(L)1-Ab/TKI].MethodsA total of 757 patients treated with PD-(L)1-Ab or PD-(L)1-Ab/TKI were evaluated for anti-thyroid antibodies (ATAs) at baseline and for thyroid function for 48 weeks after treatment initiation and then observed until the last visit.ResultsThe cumulative incidences of destructive thyroiditis [4/23 (17.4%) vs. 45/734 (6.1%) patients, p < 0.001], isolated hypothyroidism [10/23 (43.5%) vs. 29/734 (4.0%) patients, p < 0.001], and all thyroid dysfunction [14/23 (60.9%) vs. 74/734 (10.1%) patients, p < 0.001] were significantly higher in the PD-(L)1-Ab/TKI group than PD-(L)1-Ab group, respectively. All patients positive for ATAs at baseline developed thyroid dysfunction after PD-(L)1-Ab/TKI treatment, a significantly higher incidence than that in those negative for ATAs at baseline [4/4 (100%) vs. 10/19 (52.6%) patients, p = 0.026].ConclusionsThe addition of TKIs increased the risk of thyroid dysfunction induced by PD-(L)1-Ab, with the risk being higher in patients positive for baseline ATAs.

Ghrelin is a gastric peptide hormone with important physiological functions. The unique feature of ghrelin is its Serine 3 acyl-modification, which is essential for ghrelin’s activity. However, it remains to be elucidated why the acyl-modification of ghrelin is necessary for activity. To address these questions, we solved the crystal structure of the ghrelin receptor bound to antagonist. The ligand-binding pocket of the ghrelin receptor is bifurcated by a salt bridge between E124 and R283. A striking feature of the ligand-binding pocket of the ghrelin receptor is a wide gap (crevasse) between the TM6 and TM7 bundles that is rich in hydrophobic amino acids, including a cluster of phenylalanine residues. Mutagenesis analyses suggest that the interaction between the gap structure and the acyl acid moiety of ghrelin may participate in transforming the ghrelin receptor into an active conformation. Ghrelin is a gastric peptide hormone with important physiological functions, including growth hormone release and appetite-stimulating activity. Here, authors solved the crystal structure of the ghrelin receptor bound to antagonist and suggested a possible mechanism of activation by acyl-modified ghrelin.

Background/objectivesThe association of fermented soy products, separately from total soy products, with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and total cancer has not been reported. We examined this association in a population-based prospective cohort study in Japan.Subjects/methodsWe studied 79,648 participants (42,788 women; 36,860 men) aged 45–74 years without a history of cancer, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire (1995–1998) and were followed to 2009–2012. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to calculate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of incidence of CVD and total cancer according to quartiles of total soy products, nonfermented soy products, fermented soy products, miso soup, natto, total isoflavones from soy products, isoflavones from nonfermented soy products, and isoflavones from fermented soy products.ResultsIn women, we observed a significant inverse association between fermented soy product intake and the risk of CVD (multivariate HR in the highest compared with the lowest quartile of fermented soy product intake: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.95; P for trend = 0.010), and also found significant inverse associations for natto and isoflavones among fermented soy products. In site-specific analysis, we observed a similar, significant inverse association between fermented soy product intake and the risk of stroke in women. We found no significant association between any soy product and risk of CVD in men or total cancer in both sexes.ConclusionsIntake of fermented soy products such as natto was inversely associated with the risk of CVD in women.