Dana Westphal
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Research Interests
Dana Westphal has a total of 6 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Frank Friedrich Gellrich
Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
1 shared publication - Friedegund Meier
Department of Dermatology, Skin Cancer Center at the University Cancer Centre and National Center for Tumor Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
1 shared publication - Isabella Claudia Glitza Oliva
Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
1 shared publication - Julian Steininger
Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Technische Universität Dresden
1 shared publication - Matthias Meinhardt
Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
1 shared publication - Stefan Beissert
Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, 01304 Dresden, Germany
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 14 July 2023
- Published by MDPI AG in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Vol. 24 (14) , 11443
Leptomeningeal Metastases in Melanoma Patients: An Update on and Future Perspectives for Diagnosis and Treatment
Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is a devastating complication of cancer with a particularly poor prognosis. Among solid tumours, malignant melanoma (MM) has one of the highest rates of metastasis to the leptomeninges, with approximately 10–15% of patients with advanced disease developing LMD. Tumour cells that metastasise to the brain have unique properties that allow them to cross the blood–brain barrier, evade the immune system, and survive in the brain microenvironment. Metastatic colonisation is achieved through dynamic communication between metastatic cells and the tumour microenvironment, resulting in a tumour-permissive milieu. Despite advances in treatment options, the incidence of LMD appears to be increasing and current treatment modalities have a limited impact on survival. This review provides an overview of the biology of LMD, diagnosis and current treatment approaches for MM patients with LMD, and an overview of ongoing clinical trials. Despite the still limited efficacy of current therapies, there is hope that emerging treatments will improve the outcomes for patients with LMD.
- 14 July 2023
- Published by MDPI AG in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Vol. 24 (14) , 11443
Open AccessLeptomeningeal Metastases in Melanoma Patients: An Update on and Future Perspectives for Diagnosis and Treatment
Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is a devastating complication of cancer with a particularly poor prognosis. Among solid tumours, malignant melanoma (MM) has one of the highest rates of metastasis to the leptomeninges, with approximately 10–15% of patients with advanced disease developing LMD. Tumour cells that metastasise to the brain have unique properties that allow them to cross the blood–brain barrier, evade the immune system, and survive in the brain microenvironment. Metastatic colonisation is achieved through dynamic communication between metastatic cells and the tumour microenvironment, resulting in a tumour-permissive milieu. Despite advances in treatment options, the incidence of LMD appears to be increasing and current treatment modalities have a limited impact on survival. This review provides an overview of the biology of LMD, diagnosis and current treatment approaches for MM patients with LMD, and an overview of ongoing clinical trials. Despite the still limited efficacy of current therapies, there is hope that emerging treatments will improve the outcomes for patients with LMD.