Skin Tape Strip Proteomics in Mycosis Fungoides Identifies Tumor-Associated Biomarkers

Mycosis fungoides (MF), the most common type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), manifests as patches, plaques, and tumors, representing cutaneous infiltration with skin-homing malignant T-cells. The gold standard for MF diagnosis and disease monitoring is histological examination through punch biopsy. Tape strips (TS) are an emerging, noninvasive approach for exploring biomarkers in skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, with limited exploration in MF ( He et al., 2021 He H. Bissonnette R. Wu J. Diaz A. Saint-Cyr Proulx E. Maari C. et al. Tape strips detect distinct immune and barrier profiles in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021; 147: 199-212 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (76) Google Scholar , He et al., 2020 He H. Olesen C.M. Pavel A.B. Clausen M.L. Wu J. Estrada Y. et al. Tape-strip proteomic profiling of atopic dermatitis on Dupilumab identifies minimally invasive biomarkers. Front Immunol. 2020; 11: 1768 Crossref PubMed Scopus (42) Google Scholar ). We examined MF and healthy skin for the expression of 183 proteins related to immuno-oncology and inflammation through proximity extension assay, a high-throughput multiplex immunoassay platform, to investigate whether TS can detect the biomarkers associated with MF disease development, progression, and symptom severity (Figure 1a).