Westmead Dermatology We had previously shown that tape-stripping offers an efficient and non-invasive method for the collection of samples from patients with melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers for downstream proteomic investigation. We are very much interested in testing this technique for the identification of non-invasive protein biomarkers in other skin lesions, including Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma. We are pleased to have Hafsa Qureshi joining our team this year to work on this exciting project. Let’s hear from Hafsa about herself and her project this year:
Hi! My name is Hafsa Qureshi and I am studying a Bachelor of Advanced Studies (honours) at the University of Sydney. In my free time, I enjoy going to museums, playing Animal Crossing and have recently taken an interest in cooking Vietnamese food.
Under the guidance of my supervisors, Dr Pablo Fernandez-Penas and Dr Ali Azimi, I will be conducting a proteomic analysis of Cutaneous T cell Lymphoma (CTCL) using scarless biopsy. CTCL is a group of lymphoproliferative disorders which primarily manifest in the skin. Currently, CTCL is diagnosed with the use of clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical criteria. However, the heterogeneous nature of CTCL, as well as its ability to mimic other benign skin conditions have made diagnosis using these methods difficult. The development of a molecular diagnostic tool may therefore be useful in improving conventional diagnosis methods to determine whether CTCL is present.
My project will involve the use of a non-invasive method called tape stripping to collect CTCL and normal skin samples from patients. SWATH mass spectrometry proteomics will then be used to analyse proteins in the samples. It is hoped that a comparison of the proteomic profile of CTCL and normal skin will reveal lesions-specific diagnostic biomarkers.
