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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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