Full-body Skin Examination Detects Early Skin Melanomas(9/11/2009) Researchers affiliated with North Florida Dermatology Associates have reported that more the half of all melanomas detected in their clinic were not found in patients presenting complaint and were earlier stage than those diagnosed following patients specific complaints. The details of this study appeared in the August 2009 issue of Archives of Dermatology.
Tanning Beds Classified as “Carcinogenic to Humans”(8/12/2009) The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) now classifies tanning beds and other UV-emitting tanning devices as Group 1 carcinogens, meaning that there is sufficient evidence to conclude that these devices cause cancer in humans. Use of tanning beds has been linked with an increased risk of melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer.
Mobile Phone Use Not Linked with Melanoma of the Eye(2/4/2009) Researchers from Germany have reported that mobile phone use does not increase the risk of uveal melanoma. The details of this study appeared in the January 21, 2009 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Mediterranean Diet May Protect Against Cutaneous Melanoma(9/29/2008) Researchers from Italy have reported that the Mediterranean diet may protect persons from cutaneous melanoma. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the International Journal of Epidemiology on June 11, 2008.
Melanoma Rates Increasing in Young Women(7/15/2008) Researchers from the National Cancer Institute have reported that rates of melanoma continue to increase among young women in the United States. These results appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology on July 10, 2008.
High Time Costs for Informal Care Givers of Cancer Patients(9/10/2009) Researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have reported that the time spent by informal caregivers is significant and an important component in the overall burden of cancer care. The details of this study appeared in the September 4, 2009 issue of Cancer.
Gleevec® May Be Effective for KIT-Mutated Melanoma(4/29/2008) Researchers from the Dana Farber Cancer Center have reported that Gleevec® (imatinib) may be a promising therapy for patients with KIT-mutated melanoma. The results of treatment with one patient were published in the April 20, 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Sentinel-Node Biopsy Indicated in Malignant Melanoma(9/28/2006) Researchers affiliated with the Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial (MSLT) have reported that staging with sentinel-node biopsy and immediate lymphadenectomy for those with a positive biopsy improves survival of patients with intermediate thickness malignant melanoma.
Genetically Engineered Lymphocytes May Have Activity in Melanoma(9/5/2006) Researchers from the National Cancer Institute have reported the successful transfer of genetically engineered lymphocytes with responses in 2 of 17 patients with advanced melanoma.
Adjuvant Peginterferon Associated with Decreased Quality of Life in Patients with Stage III Melanoma(7/29/2009) Researchers affiliated with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Melanoma Group have reported that adjuvant pegylated interferon alfa-2b (peginterferon, Pegasys®, PEGintron®) improves relapse-free survival in patients with Stage III melanoma but has significant side effects that interfere with quality of life (QOL). The details of this study appeared in the June 20, 2009 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Nexavar® Fails to Improve Melanoma Survival(5/18/2009) Among patients with Stage III or Stage IV melanoma that cannot be surgically removed, treatment with a combination of Nexavar® (sorafenib) and chemotherapy did not result in better survival than treatment with chemotherapy alone. The results of this Phase III clinical trial were made available in a press release from Onyx Pharmaceuticals.
Adjuvant Pegylated Interferon Improves Disease-free Survival in Patients with Stage III Melanoma(7/14/2008) Researchers affiliated with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) have reported that adjuvant pegylated interferon alfa-2b increases recurrence-free survival in patients with Stage III melanoma. The details of this report appeared in the July 12, 2008 issue of The Lancet.
Gleevec® May Be Effective for KIT-Mutated Melanoma(4/29/2008) Researchers from the Dana Farber Cancer Center have reported that Gleevec® (imatinib) may be a promising therapy for patients with KIT-mutated melanoma. The results of treatment with one patient were published in the April 20, 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Addition of Genasense® to DTIC-Dome® Improves Outcomes in Metastatic Melanoma Patients With Normal LDH(10/10/2006) Results from a multi-national phase III trial indicate that addition of the Genasense® (oblimersen) to DTIC-Dome (dacarbazine) provides a significant survival benefit in patients with metastatic stage III or IV melanoma compared to DTIC alone. However, this benefit was only demonstrated in patients with normal LDH levels.
Adjuvant Radiotherapy Improves Local Control in High-risk Melanoma Patients(11/12/2009) Researchers affiliated with the Intergroup Randomized Trial (TROG 01.01/ANZMTG 01.02) have reported that adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) improves regional control for patients with high-risk melanoma without a statistically significant effect on survival. The details of this study were presented at the 2009 meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO).
PLX4032, an Oncogenic BRAF-selective Inhibitor, Is Active in Advanced Melanoma(9/30/2009) Researchers involved in a U.S.-Australian Phase I study have reported significant activity for PLX4032 in the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma. The details of this study were presented as a late-breaking abstract at the Joint ECCO 15-34th ESMO Multidisciplinary Congress in Berlin, September 20-24, 2009.
Sutent® Has Antitumor Activity in Patients with Advanced Melanoma(9/24/2009) Researchers from Belgium have reported that Sutent® (sunitinib) benefits one-third of patients with advanced malignant melanoma who have previously failed dacarbazine-based chemotherapy. The details of this Phase II study were presented at the Joint ECCO 15 – 34th ESMO Multidisciplinary Congress in Berlin, September 20-24, 2009.
Adjuvant Radiation Therapy May Improve Outcomes of Melanoma(9/4/2009) Researchers from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have reported that adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) improves local control of melanoma following therapeutic lymph node dissection for lymph node-metastatic disease and may improve disease-specific survival. The details of this retrospective study were published early online in Cancer on August 21, 2009.
Experimental Vaccine Improves Melanoma Outcomes(6/9/2009) Patients with advanced melanoma experienced higher response rates and longer survival without cancer progression when treated with an experimental anticancer vaccine in addition to standard therapy. These were the preliminary findings from a Phase III clinical trial presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Radiofrequency Ablation Effective for Lung Tumors(7/22/2008) Researchers involved in a multicenter international trial have reported that the use of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of lung cancer or pulmonary metastases provides an effective and safe therapeutic option for selected patients. These results were recently published in the July 7, 2008 issue of Lancet Oncology.
Platinol®, Gemzar® and Theosulfan is Palliative for Relapsed Melanoma(11/5/2007) Researchers from Germany have reported that the combination of Platinol (cisplatin), Gemzar (gemcitabine) and theosulfan (dihydroxybusulfan) has significant palliative effects in patients with stage IV melanoma who have failed 1-3 lines of therapy. The details of this study appeared in an early on-line advanced publication in the British Journal of Cancer on October 30, 2007.
ALS-357 Granted Orphan Drug Status for Metastatic Melanoma(9/20/2007) The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc. orphan drug designation for their agent ALS-351 in the treatment of metastatic melanoma.
Addition of Gliadel® Wafer to Surgery and Radiation Effective for Brain Metastasis(6/27/2007) Researchers involved in a multicenter trial have reported that the addition of Gliadel® Wafer (carmustine polymer wafer) to surgery plus external beam radiotherapy is a safe and effective regimen for patients with single brain metastasis. The details of this study appeared in the June 15, 2007 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
Metastatic Melanoma Responds to Taxol® and Paraplatin®(2/16/2006) Researchers from the Mayo Clinic have reported that 45% of patients with metastatic melanoma that has failed first line chemotherapy appear to benefit from the combination of Taxol (paclitaxel) and Paraplatin (cisplatin).
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