Role of Angiogenesis in Dermatologic Diseases: A Potential Therapeutic Target

The researchers believe that pro-angiogenic factors are upregulated in a wide range of dermatologic diseases, including port wine stains, hemangiomas, angiofibromas, Kaposi's sarcoma, angiosarcoma, scars, rosacea, and psoriasis. Select specimens may undergo genetic analysis to investigate underlying molecular pathways associated with dysregulated angiogenesis in cutaneous disease. Biospecimens, either previously obtained or newly collected from dermatologic conditions, will be analyzed for angiogenic markers. Discarded skin tissue from surgical or biopsy procedures may also be used, including both diseased and non-diseased tissue from the same donor. Some specimens may also undergo genetic analysis to investigate underlying molecular pathways. De-identified data such as age, sex, race, cause of death, lesion location, and description will be recorded. Currently, specimens are limited to clinically diagnosed lesions not typically biopsied, or lesions already confirmed by prior biopsy.