Aditi Sahu, Ph.D.

Research Overview

Melanoma represents a significant health care burden, especially among those with lighter pigmented skin.  Although melanoma accounts for less than 5% of total skin cancers, it accounts for more than 80% of skin cancer deaths. If detected early, melanoma patients have high survival rates.

In an effort to diagnose melanoma, pigmented lesions (e.g., moles) that appear suspicious or new are often biopsied indiscriminately for fear of them being or turning into melanoma. This can mean unnecessary biopsies and increased burdens for the patient such as cost, distress, scarring and pain. Providers end up over testing these atypical lesions because they appear like melanoma, and a diagnosis can only be confirmed or ruled out by a biopsy and pathology.

In this study, we will:

• Develop a non-invasive way to classify these atypical lesions as “high-risk lesions” or “low-risk lesions “based on their natural biology, without the need for a biopsy.
• Use an advanced microscopy technique called reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) to view cell- and architecture-level morphology of a tumor and the surrounding microenvironment (immune cells and blood vessels) directly inside patient skin, non-invasively to identify “morphological biomarkers.”
• Complement morphology with biological features related to metabolism, fat/lipid distribution and immune function, also extracted non-invasively with adhesive tapes. By combining morphology and biology, we’ll have an unprecedented opportunity to analyze these lesions at a level of detail not offered by pathology alone. This will enable the development of non-invasive ways to predict the cancer risk of lesions and impact treatment approaches.

My “Why”

From a very early age, I have aspired to make a meaningful difference in the fight against cancer, given its tremendous impact on families and society. During my doctoral studies, I embraced this challenge and focused on developing early diagnosis tools for improving survival rates for oral cancers. Collaborating with patients and contributing to advancements in cancer detection was immensely rewarding, fueling my dedication to this field. At Memorial Sloan Kettering, the opportunity to impact lives through the early detection of skin cancers, especially melanoma, drives my commitment for advancing cancer research and inspires me every day.

Why Funding Matters           

As an early-career scientist, funding [from the Prevent Cancer Research Foundation] is vital for advancing my research project and career. This grant will enable me to generate essential preliminary data for future large-scale studies, laying the groundwork for impactful advancements in melanoma prevention and early detection. Additionally, this award will provide invaluable opportunities to network with experts in the field and establish long-term collaborations that will drive meaningful progress in melanoma research.