LUMC researchers have recently discovered a promising treatment for congenital melanocytic nevi, or pigmented moles. ‘With a subsidy from the Dioraphte Foundation, they can further develop this treatment with the aim of bringing it to clinical practice’, the LUMC has announced.
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Large areas of skin covered with pigmented moles
Congenital melanocytic nevi are congenital pigmented moles that can cover large areas of the skin. Patients with large congenital moles have an increased risk of neurological symptoms and melanoma. There is a need for new, non-surgical treatments for large congenital melanocytic nevi.
Selective elimination of nevus-like cells
It has recently been discovered that a pharmacological compound affecting regulation of oxidative stress in melanocytes in culture selectively eliminates nevus-like cells. Remco van Doorn and Tim van Groningen from the Department of Skin Diseases will investigate, among other things, how the treatment effect can be increased by adding a second pharmacological compound.
‘Local injection or cream on skin’
To this end, cultured human nevi tissue and a mouse model for congenital nevi will be treated, in collaboration with a research group at UMC Utrecht. ‘We are striving to develop a treatment that can be applied to the skin as a local injection or cream, so that congenital melanocytic nevi disappear,’ says Van Doorn.
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