Melanoma Action and Support Scotland News Round Up: April

MASScot does not endorse nor is affiliated with any of the content contained within these links outwith the first three links.

Raising awarness of skin cancer

• The opening of a new charity office that helps people diagnosed with skin cancer has been welcomed by its Bearsden chairperson.

Source: Milngavie and Bearsden Herald 

Footballer opens new skin cancer centre

• A Queen’s Park football player officially opened a new cancer care and support centre in the city.

Source: The Extra 

DUNDEE UTD FOOTBALL STAR OPENS NEW CANCER SUPPORT CENTRE

• Melanoma Action and Support Scotland (MASScot) held their grand opening of the organisations brand new support and retail centre which will help raise funds and provide therapies for melanoma and skin cancer patients along with their carers.

Source: Dundee Messenger 

FDA Panel Gives Thumbs-Up To Amgen's Virus-Based Melanoma Drug

• Two days after the U.S. Food & Drug Administration signaled it might quash Amgen Inc.’s attempt to usher in a whole new class of virus-based cancer drugs, an advisory panel for the agency voted “yes” on the question of whether the company’s experimental melanoma treatment, talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), has a favorable enough risk-benefit profile for approval.

Source: Forbes 

The Medical Minute: How artificial tanning can lead to melanoma

• Young women may be up on the latest fashions and trends as they prepare for prom season. But what many don’t know is that the tan that looks oh-so-good with their dress may be the first step toward skin cancer. And cancer is not glamorous.

Source: PSU 

Immunotherapy drug combination shows promise for advanced melanoma patients

• Two immunotherapy drugs could be better than one - at least for a subset of patients with advanced melanoma, according to a preliminary US trial.

Source: CR UK

Bristol-Myers combination melanoma treatment shows promise

• Skin cancer patients taking two Bristol-Myers Squibb drugs that help their immune systems fight melanoma saw their tumours shrink more dramatically than those on a single medication, according to a clinical study. The results from the mid-stage trial give credence to the theory that a combination of “immunotherapy” drugs will lead to a breakthrough in treating one of the world’s deadliest diseases.

Source: FT 

Melanoma’s ‘safe haven’ targeted for shut-down

• MELANOMA cells become drug resistant by using surrounding healthy cells to provide a ‘safe haven’ from treatment, according to new research* published in Cancer Cell today (Monday).

Source: CR UK

Melanoma Tumor 'Dissolves' After 1 Dose of New Drug Combo

• A large melanoma tumor on a woman's chest disappeared so quickly that it left a gaping hole in its place after she received a new treatment containing two melanoma drugs, a new case report finds.

Source: Yahoo 

Rise in UK inquiries for melanoma screening

• INCREASING numbers of Britons are turning to private clinics to look into having potentially malignant moles removed, according to new research.

Source: Scotsman 

BMS' Opdivo backed as melanoma therapy in EU

• Bristol-Myers Squibb's Opdivo has become the first checkpoint inhibitor to be recommended for approval in the EU, grabbing a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) as a treatment for melanoma.

Source: PM Live

Personalized vaccine shows promise against melanoma recurrence

• Early data from a "first-in-people" clinical trial at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, suggests that personalized melanoma vaccines may provide a powerful immune response against tumor mutations.

Source: Medical News Today 

Skin cancer: 1960s package holiday boom blamed for surge in melanoma cases among OAPs

• The package holiday boom of the last 50 years has been blamed for a huge rise in the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Source: Mirror 

Eyes on Cancer: Help Fight Melanoma

• For hairdressers, Jeanne Braa Foster might add a fifth direction: gab. “If you see something, say something,” she urges. In 2014, Foster and her husband, Dr. Dean Foster, launched Eyes on Cancer, a nonprofit cancer awareness organization that teaches beauty professionals to identify early-stage skin cancer. The course is free and available online. The Fosters have another rule, too: “Check yourself first!”

Source: Modern Salon 

Skin cancer cases in Scotland rise by almost a third

• Cases of skin cancer in Scotland have increased by more than 30% in the past decade, according to latest NHS figures.

Source: BBC 

Skin cancer at work kills 50 a year: 250 cases registered from people who spend time outside through jobs in construction, agriculture or leisure 

• Almost 50 people a year die of skin cancer after being exposed to the sun at work in the UK, research shows.

Source: Daily Mail 

Why spring sun's such a risk for skin cancer: Forecasters predict weeks of good weather. But rushing outside after months indoors can be deadly 

• Dr Andy Dowson is, in his own words: 'not a big fan of the sun'. He'd rather sit in the shade than lie out in the heat. 'I don't go to hot places.' Indeed, family holidays with his wife and three children are spent in northern America 'where the climate is a bit like here,' he says.

Source: Daily Mail 

Bournemouth builders backs skin cancer awareness campaign

• A BUILDERS merchant in Bournemouth has joined forces with Macmillan Cancer Support to raise awareness about skin cancer among men.

Source: Bournemouth Echo 

Conservative candidate Michael Fabricant reveals he has skin cancer

• Michael Fabricant, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Lichfield, has revealed he has been diagnosed with skin cancer.

Source: Independent 

Parents of tanning addict who died from skin cancer at just 26 campaign for changes in the law for sunbeds

• The family of a Massachusetts woman who died from melanoma likely caused by her love of tanning are campaigning for a change to laws governing sunbeds.

Source: Daily Mail 

Melanoma & Skin Cancer News Round Up: 27/03/2015

MASScot does not endorse nor is affiliated with any of the content contained within these links.

• Merck halts study in light of melanoma drug’s success

Keytruda proved successful in prolonging survival rates of melanoma patients, and the company is hoping the drug can do the same for many more cancers.

Source: Fortune 

• Combined Triple Therapy Boosts Anti-Tumor Immune Response in Melanoma

In a new study entitled “Improved anti tumor activity of immunotherapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors in BRAFV600E melanoma,” researchers show increased anti-tumor activity of a triple therapy – BRAF and MEK inhibitors with immunotherapy — in BRAF mutant melanoma. The study was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Source: Immuno-Oncology News 

• Teacher determined to educate about dangers of melanoma

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime and 3.5 million new cases are predicted to be diagnosed this year, that’s according to IU Health.

Biology teacher Ken Link knows the statistics all too well. He lost his wife to skin cancer two years ago.

It’s one reason why he makes sure Hamilton Southeastern High School students know the dangers of the sun.

Source: Wish TV 

• Research Shows Gene Removal May Aid Melanoma Treatmen

Nearly 10,000 deaths from melanoma – the deadliest of all skin cancers – occurred in the U.S. last year, according to the National Cancer Institute. And while treatment advances have been made in fighting melanoma, a majority of these patients will die from their disease. In an aim to build upon these advances, investigators at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey have demonstrated that removal of a gene involved in the cellular self-cannibalization process of autophagy could provide therapeutic benefit to patients with melanoma.
Source: NewsWise 

• Ipilimumab confers long-term survival in advanced melanoma

Ipilimumab was associated with long-term OS rates that plateaued after 3 years in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma, according to results from a pooled analysis of phase 2 and phase 3 trials.

Source: Healio 

• Radiation Plus Immunotherapy Combination Improves Immune System Response to Metastatic Melanoma

A triple attack of radiation plus two immunotherapies appears to improve the immune system response in patients with metastatic melanoma, according to a recent study from a multidisciplinary team of researchers, including the Miller School’s Hemant Ishwaran, Ph.D., professor of public health sciences.

Source: Health Canal 

• Skin cancer scare has made me more aware of sun dangers, says Emilia Fox

When actress Emilia Fox was pregnant with her daughter Rose she felt the same joyous Wanticipation as any woman about to become a mother for the first time. But just as the 40-year-old Silent Witness star was mapping out her future as a parent she faced a health scare which threatened all her dreams.

Source: Express

• Full-body scanner could ease early detection of skin cancer

Researchers at the Magdeburg University Clinic for Dermatology and Venereology in Germany and colleagues have developed a full-body scanner device that could bring early detection of skin cancer a major step forward, as it could simplify the work of dermatologists and provide a more reliable form of skin screening.

Source: Bio Optics World 

Melanoma Action and Support Scotland News Round Up: Feb/March

  MASScot does not endorse nor is affiliated with any of the content contained within these links.

Skin cancer drug fast-tracked on NHS

• An experimental and unlicensed cancer drug has been fast-tracked to NHS patients under a new government scheme.

Source: BBC

FTC to Pursue Charges Against Melanoma Detection Apps

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has opened a case to end fraudulent advertisement regarding mobile apps that are supposed to diagnose melanoma through detecting symptoms or pictures of moles.

Source: Melanoma news today

·       

     Penn trial suggests 'triple threat' for melanoma patients could be effective

• Results from a clinical trial published online in the journal Nature Monday introduce a new "triple threat" combination that could be effective in treating melanoma that's spread throughout a patient's body.

Source: Newsworks   

Colin Bloomfield: BBC Radio Derby presenter launches Melanoma Appeal to educate Derbyshire children about sun safety

• For 18 months, readers of the Derby Telegraph and listeners to BBC Radio Derby have been following Colin Bloomfield's fight against stage four melanoma.

Source: Derby Telegraph  

Immunotherapy promising for advanced melanoma

• Perhaps no other cancer has benefited more from treatment advances in recent years than advanced melanoma. Once a virtual death sentence, these patients now have a reason to be hopeful, thanks to agents approved in the last three years and even better ones in the pipeline, speakers said at the 3rd Annual World Cutaneous Malignancies Congress.

Source: Dermatology Times

 FTC fines apps firms for claiming their technology could detect melanoma

• Claims marketers of Mole Detective and MelApp ‘lacked adequate evidence’ showing their apps could detect melanoma symptoms

Source: The Guardian 

Three Dog Night’s Jimmy Greenspoon Dies of Melanoma

• Keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon, a classic-era member of Three Dog Night, has died after a battle with cancer. The band confirmed Greenspoon’s passing on their Facebook page, adding that the 67-year-old died today (March 11) at his residence.

Source: Ultimate classic Rock

Colin Bloomfield Melanoma Appeal: Derby County and Mel Morris to donate thousands of pounds

• DERBY County Football Club is to donate thousands of pounds to the Colin Bloomfield Melanoma Appeal.

Source: Derby Telegraph

AAD task force reviews strengths, weaknesses of ABCDEs of melanoma

• The American Academy of Dermatology Ad Hoc Task Force for the ABCDEs of Melanoma, chaired by Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD, reviewed the mnemonic for early detection of melanoma and determined it has strengths and weaknesses.

Source: Healio      

 Eight recent developments in melanoma

• Recent study findings involving melanoma included patients with familial or sporadic melanoma having an elevated risk for future melanoma and the use of gene expression profiling to identify metastasis risk.

Source: Healio          

 Ipilimumab improves 5-year survival rate in advanced melanoma

• The addition of ipilimumab to dacarbazine doubled 5-year survival in treatment-naive patients with advanced melanoma, according to results of a randomized, controlled phase 3 trial.

Source: Healio       

Frontline Therapy for BRAF-Mutated Unresectable Melanoma

• Several factors can be utilized to determine the optimal treatment for patients with BRAF-mutated unresectable melanoma, explains Anna Pavlick, DO. Outside of BRAF status, treatment can be tailored using the volume of disease, rate of progression, symptoms, and LDH level.

Source: Onc Live

          

Pilots' union to support melanoma charities

• The UK’s pilots' union is to support Melanoma UK and Melanoma Focus in an effort to support pilots affected by the disease.

Source: Travel weekly     

 Study Shows Castle Biosciences’ Noninvasive Skin Melanoma Gene Test Improves Accuracy of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Predicting Metastasis

• Castle Biosciences Inc. today announced the publication of a clinical study showing that its gene expression profile (GEP) test for cutaneous (skin) melanoma improved the prognostic accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in identifying patients at high risk of their cancer spreading.

Source: Pharmiweb

Sun Damage Causes Genetic Changes That Predispose Children and Adolescents to Melanoma

• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital—Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project has identified the genetic basis of three pediatric melanoma subtypes; findings could lead to better diagnosis and treatment.

Source: News Wise               

·         Novel Risk Score Could Identify Melanoma Risk

• A novel risk score may be able to identify patients who are at risk for developing melanoma, according to a recent study published online ahead of print in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Source: Cancer therapy advisor           

·         New-look Melanoma New Zealand geared up to fight disease

• New-look Melanoma New Zealand geared up to fight disease. The Melanoma Foundation of New Zealand has had a makeover, this month unveiling a new name and an overhaul of the organisation’s branding.

Source: Scoop           

Treating Melanoma with the Help of Chromatography

• Most people enjoy some time in the sun and while a little sunlight is good for us — helping to generate vitamin D — too much sun can be harmful. The sting of sunburnt skin is painful, but the effects of too much sun can also result in something far more serious — melanoma and possibly death.

Source: Chromatography Today

Melanoma & Skin Cancer News Round Up:13/02/2015

MASScot does not endorse nor is affiliated with any of the content contained within these links.

• Late Melanoma Patients Will Need Several Lines of Therapy, Intralesional Treatment Promising Says New Paper

Despite advances in melanoma treatment, many patients with unresectable, multiple or advanced locally/regionally metastatic stage IIIB/C or stage IV M1a melanoma will need several lines of therapy according to a recent paper in Current Opinion in Oncology.

Source: News Wise 

• Melanoma charity uses shock tactics in new awareness campaign

Melanoma awareness and education charity Mollie's Fund has launched a new campaign to educate people who use sunbeds about the dangers of skin cancer.

Source: PM Live 

• Melanoma Survival Directly Tied to Early Detection and Annual Skin Cancer Screenings

Melanoma is the leading cause of skin cancer deaths, claiming the lives of thousands in the United States each year. More than one American dies every hour from melanoma. Don’t let that person be someone you love. Take the lead in your skin health by educating yourself, your friends and your family on the risk factors of melanoma and the ways to reduce your risk by enrolling in an early detection skin cancer screening program.

Source: Tap into 

• Melanoma Breakthrough: New Mechanism May Lead to Drug Resistance, Metastasis

A newly discovered mechanism—EphA2 protein activity—may lead to drug resistance and metastasis in melanoma patients. Researchers are investigating strategies to counteract this novel mechanism.

Source: Skin Inc 

• Guidance aims to iron out wide variations in melanoma management

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has developed its first draft guidance on the skin cancer melanoma in a bid to iron out the wide variations across the country in diagnosis and treatment of the malignancy.

Source: On Medica 

• New drug to be trialled on melanoma patients in world first

IN a world-first, a drug will be trialled on Victorian patients with melanoma so advanced it has spread to their brain.

The Melanoma Institute Australia hopes the immunotherapy drug — from the same class of treatments that helped businessman Ron Walker — will shrink tumours and ­extend patients’ lives.

Source: Herald Sun 

Words of wisdom! Hugh Jackman encourages his fans to wear sunscreen following third skin cancer scare last year

He's been treated for skin cancer three times in the past 12 months, and now Hugh Jackman is trying to protect his fans from being struck down with the condition as well.

Source: Daily Mail 

• New app could diagnose skin cancer

A new app that could detect skin cancer in patients is currently being tested, a team of medical and software experts announced.

Source: E and T 

Text messages a new tool in the fight to prevent skin cancer

Australians' love affair with mobile phones could save their life according to a joint QUT, Cancer Council Queensland and University of Queensland study using text messages to improve skin cancer prevention and promote sun protection.

Source: Medical Xpress

• Do I Have Skin Cancer? 12 Symptoms Men Should Never Ignore

Symptoms of skin cancer should never be ignored. Although not all skin cancers are considered fatal, thousands of Americans die every year from skin cancer. Certain skin cancers or pre-cancers such as basal cell carcinoma are easily treated when caught early. Melanoma, however, is the most progressive and life-threatening skin cancer.

Source: NewsMax 

Melanoma & Skin Cancer News Round Up: 30/01/2015

MASScot does not endorse nor is affiliated with any of the content contained within these links.

• NICE consults on new guideline to identify and treat skin cancer (melanoma) earlier

NICE has developed its first guideline to reduce the numbers of people dying from the skin cancer melanoma. The draft guideline is aimed at tackling wide variation across the country in diagnosis and treatment.

Source: NICE 

• PD-1 Inhibition: The Changing Treatment Paradigm for Melanoma 

An increased understanding of tumor immunology has led to seven new melanoma drug approvals since 2011, including the recent approvals of the PD-1 inhibitors nivolumab (Opdivo) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda). In addition, several completed and ongoing trials show promise for the use of immunotherapies in improving survival for patients with melanoma.

Source: Onc Live 

• Grant Enables Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey Investigators to Explore Melanoma Metastasis (US)

The mechanism by which small cellular vesicles promote melanoma metastasis (spread of disease), will be further explored by investigators at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University. A recently-awarded $200,000 grant (R21CA185835) from the National Cancer Institute to researchers Suzie Chen, PhD, and James S. Goydos, MD, FACS, will support the work.

Source: News Wise 

• Children of melanoma survivors need better sun protection

A groundbreaking new study has discovered that children of melanoma survivors are not adhering optimally to sun protection recommendations. This is concerning as sunburns are a major risk factor for melanoma, and children of survivors are at increased risk for developing the disease as adults.

Source: Oncology Nurse Advisor 

• Antibiotics Efficiently Kill Skin Cancer Stem Cells

A group of researchers led by Professor Michael P. Lisanti, Director of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Unit, have published results of a recent study in Oncotarget, whereby they demonstrate the promising effects of antibiotics on different types of cancer cells, including skin cancer.

Source: Melanoma News Today 

• New Zealand's Skin Cancer Rate Called A 'Timebomb' Waiting To Explode (NZ)

A top dermatologist in New Zealand has called skin cancer in the country a “time bomb” waiting to explode on the ageing population. Dermatologists have noted an increasing number of skin cancer cases among the elderly.

Source: IB Times 

• Upswing in Skin Cancer Costs (US)

The cost of treating skin cancer outpaced treatment costs for all other cancers combined by 5-fold from 2002 to 2011, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study.

Source: Jama Network 

• Inside Your Health: Mobile Applications Preventing Skin Cancer (US)

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. Two studies released today measure the effectiveness of new technologies for preventing skin cancer. For example, taking a picture of a suspicious mole and sending it to your dermatologist.

Source: KSTP 

Melanoma & Skin Cancer News Round Up: 26/01/2015

MASScot does not endorse nor is affiliated with any of the content contained within these links.

• Study: Coffee May Reduce Risk Of Melanoma

Here’s some more (potentially) good news for coffee devotees: A new study finds that drinking four or more cups of coffee a day – a fairly hefty amount, by most counts – is linked to a reduced risk for melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

Source: Forbes 

• ALS drug shows promise in treating melanoma

James Goydos, a professor at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, recommended that Suzie Chen, a professor at the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy test a drug used to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis to treat melanoma.

Source: Daily Targum

• Increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer with subsequent keratinocytes carcinoma

The risk for another non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) was significantly higher after a non-first NMSC diagnosis compared to the risk for another NMSC after a first-time NMSC diagnosis.

Source: 2 minute medicine 

• New drug rids former soldier of melanoma

Bob Hill was told he would probably die within six months from incurable melanoma - but that was before he entered a clinical trial of one of the new drugs that is revolutionising treatment of the disease.

Source: NZ Herald 

• Eight recent developments involving melanoma

Recently published studies involving melanoma included research showing that children of melanoma survivors do not adhere to optimal sun protection, and that changes in nevi were poor predictors of melanoma in children.

Source: Healio 

• Children of melanoma survivors do not adequately protect themselves from sun

Children of melanoma survivors do not adhere to optimal sun protection recommendations, as more than 40% of those individuals experienced a sunburn in the past year, according to results of an observational study.

Source: Healio 

• 'Escape to the sun' skin cancer concerns

The NHS regulator for England is trying to help people understand the benefits and risks of sun exposure so people can strike the right balance, whilst not putting themselves at increased risk of skin cancer.
Source: WebMD Boots 

Melanoma & Skin Cancer News Round Up: 16/01/2015

MASScot does not endorse nor is affiliated with any of the content contained within these links.

• Dear Melanoma: Young woman given three months to live writes heartfelt diary to inspire cancer sufferers

Emma Betts posts raw and honest thoughts about her battle with the disease after surviving at least a year longer than doctors predicted

Source: Mirror 

• Researchers find clues on how melanoma resists effective treatments

Researchers believe they have discovered a mechanism by which tumors eventually evade effective combination treatments for melanoma, providing clues that could lead to longer-lasting therapies for the deadliest of skin cancers.

Source: Reuters 

• Sun risk for children of melanoma survivors

A new study has found that children whose parents are melanoma survivors are not receiving the best possible protection from the sun and ultraviolet radiation.

Source: Medical News Today 

• New Test Identifies Early-Stage Melanoma With Metastatic Risk

Because two-thirds of melanoma patients who die or experience metastatic disease are initially diagnosed with early-stage disease, it is important to determine risk for metastasis in patients with early-stage melanoma. About 75% of patients with melanoma have early disease (stage I or II) at diagnosis.

Source: Medscape

• Check yourself! The difference between a mole and melanoma explained

With the number of skin cancer cases on the rise, awareness, sun safety and early detection remain vital.

Source: Woman's Day 

• Drug for Lou Gehrig’s Disease Boosts Radiation Effectiveness in Melanoma Laboratory Models with Brain Metastasis

Research from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University demonstrates that a drug used to treat Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) helps radiation be more effective when it was administered to laboratory models with melanoma that had metastasized to the brain.

Source: News Wise 

• Young adults ignore skin cancer warnings (AUS)

It is no longer cool to be tanned, but the forgetfulness of young adults around sun protection is still resulting in red faces.

Source: SMH 

• Skiing and Skin Cancer

If your winter activities includes some skiing, remember that sun safety is as important in winter as it is in summer. In fact, it’s even more important on snowy mountains since 80% of the sun’s rays are bounced off the snow and back at us. Even on cloudy days we can get a sunburn! Check out the infographic to learn why and to see how you can protect your skin.

Source: Healthcare Utah 

Melanoma & Skin Cancer News Round Up: 09/01/2015

MASScot does not endorse nor is affiliated with any of the content contained within these links.

• New skin cancer drug set for clinical trials

Lab tests suggest panRAF inhibitor may be effective in melanoma patients no longer responding to existing treatments.

Source: The Guardian 

• IBM applies cognitive computing to skin cancer diagnosis 

IBM is researching the application of cognitive computing to analyse dermatological images of skin lesions with the goal of assisting clinicians in the identification of various cancerous disease states. 

Source: Electronics Weekly 

• New skin cancer drugs show promise in lab tests

"New skin cancer drug set for clinical trials," The Guardian reports. In fact, two new compounds designed to treat malignant melanoma are due for trials after promising results in laboratory research.

Source: NHS 

• Skin cancer: Painkillers linked to reduced risk

Regularly taking aspirin and ibuprofen may help protect against some forms of skin cancer, research suggests.

Source: BBC 

• Cambridge skin cancer device turns up the heat

A clip-on skin cancer device that tells users when they have had enough sun has been developed by UK design hothouse Cambridge Consultants and was being unveiled at CES in Las Vegas today.

Source: Business Weekly 

• Iconic Father Ted actor to undergo treatment for skin cancer

Frank Kelly will undergo treatment for cancer again, it has been revealed.

The Father Jack actor, who previously beat bowel cancer, will have a simple procedure done to remove two small skin cancers.

Source: Mirror 

• Bin man loses ear to skin cancer after 38 years of working in the sun

SKIN cancer victim Clive Birch has had his left ear removed – after spending decades working outside as a bin man.

Source: Stoke Sentinel  

• Chance visit to health marquee during festival led to skin cancer treatment for Ann

An eagle-eyed doctor manning a health marquee at Bedford’s River Festival spotted the early signs of skin cancer on one visitor.


Source: Bedford Today 

• MEK/BRAF Inhibitor Combo Reduces Death by One-Third in Melanoma 

Patients with previously untreated BRAF V600E or V600K metastatic melanoma had a significant improvement in overall survival when treated with a combination of a BRAF inhibitor and a MEK inhibitor compared with treatment with a BRAF inhibitor alone, according to the results of a study published in the January 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. 

Source: Cancer Network 

• Combo therapy may help fight melanoma

Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer, with high mortality rates. While new drugs have been approved to treat the disease, patients nearly always develop resistance to the therapies and the cancer advances.

This is especially relevant for patients with a mutation in the BRAF gene who generally have a robust, but temporary, response to BRAF inhibitor therapies. Researchers have been trying to identify therapies that can be combined to improve patient response.

Source: Health Canal 

• FDA approves Opdivo for advanced melanoma (USA)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today granted accelerated approval to Opdivo (nivolumab), a new treatment for patients with unresectable (cannot be removed by surgery) or metastatic (advanced) melanoma who no longer respond to other drugs.

Source: FDA 

• Ipilimumab demonstrates long-term survival benefit in advanced melanoma

Some patients with advanced melanoma treated with ipilimumab continued to derive a survival benefit at least 5 years after treatment, according to study results.

Source: Healio 

• Year in Review: Progress in Melanoma

Role of immune checkpoint inhibitors, other targeted agents topped the news about melanoma.

Source: Med Page Today 

• Deep Fascia Excision No Help With Cutaneous Melanoma

Excision of the deep fascia does not improve the outcome of patients with cutaneous melanomas thicker than 2 millimeters, according to a study published in the December issue of the British Journal of Dermatology.

Source: Physician News 

• Australian firefighters had higher melanoma, prostate cancer risk than public (AUS)

Firefighters in Australia were found to have an increased risk of melanoma and prostate cancer compared with the general public, according to the results of a recently published study.

Source: Healio