Skin Cancer/Melanoma

The FDA has approved the combination of the BRAF inhibitor Braftovi (encorafenib) and the MEK inhibitor Mektovi (binimetinib) for the treatment of patients with BRAF-mutant unresectable or metastatic melanoma, as detected by an FDA-approved test.

The FDA has accepted a supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for the use of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as an adjuvant treatment for patients with resected, high-risk stage 3 melanoma, according to Merck (MSD), the manufacturer of the PD-1 inhibitor.

In melanoma, combining two immunotherapies may lower costs and improve quality of life.

Novel immunotherapies either release the immune system’s parking brake or hit its gas pedal.

Oncolytic, or engineered, viruses that infect and kill cancer cells are showing promise.

Checkpoint inhibitors can be extremely effective for the right patients, but identifying who will benefit remains an imprecise science.

A new expert guideline for managing immunotherapy’s side effects has been released.

Study findings published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology showed that once-daily aspirin use can increase the risk of melanoma in men — nearly double that of men who do not use aspirin each day.

Lynch syndrome – a hereditary condition that increases a person’s risk for developing several types of cancer – is common among people with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumors, linking it to several new cancer types, according to large genomic study results presented at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

Age shouldn't be a determining factor in giving a patient with melanoma immunotherapy. In fact, one study found that older patients actually do better on checkpoint blockades.

Recognize birthdays, but most importantly, keep hope, says a breast cancer and melanoma survivor.

The FDA has granted a priority review to a new drug application (NDA) for larotrectinib for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors with an NTRK gene fusion, according to Bayer and Loxo Oncology, the codevelopers of the pan-TRK inhibitor.

Recent research, conducted at NYU Langone Health and presented at the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Annual Congress, sought to find out how patients with melanoma perceived skin health education, and their willingness be involved in their own surveillance or a loved one’s.

One melanoma survivor offers advice for Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

I think being an athlete is what saved my life.

If I ever got sick or injured I would go to the children’s hospital, but that was nothing like a real hospital where people are fighting for their life day-in and day-out. I absolutely hated it, and still do. I was in Emory Hospital visiting my dad two to three times a week for about six months, and every time I walked in that place, it just gave me the heebie-jeebies.

Mike Schmidt developed stage 3 melanoma after years of playing professional baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies.

After radiation, as the skin heals, a compassionate dermatologist can help us to monitor any lingering side-effects.

The combination therapy of Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and Mekinist (trametinib) was granted Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of patients with BRAF V600E– or V600K–positive stage 3 melanoma following complete resection.

May is skin cancer awareness month, and a good reminder to schedule an appointment with your dermatologist.

Age should not limit which patients with metastatic melanoma receive immunotherapy.

For patients with melanoma, administration of a PD-1 checkpoint blockade therapy in the neoadjuvant setting – meaning it was given before the main treatment – could result in improved outcomes and better insight to patient responses.

Tests like these are growing increasingly important, as TOO results lead to treatment changes about 65 percent of the time and a site treatment change about 35 percent of the time, according to Cancer Genetics.

"I have grown as a person since becoming a cancer survivor," says breast cancer and melanoma survivor Barbara Tako.

After a recent FDA approval for an additional dosing schedule option for Opdivo, patients must be educated on the potential side effects that may occur between prolonged visits.