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Hole in one, not hole from sun

A new study from the University of South Australia reveals that golfers have a higher lifetime prevalence of skin cancer compared to the general population. The research highlights the importance of sun protection strategies for golfers, who spend extended periods in the sun.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine·TypeSurvey·DateJul 31, 2023

Immobilizing melanoma

Researchers have identified podoplanin as a key protein driving the spread of mucosal melanoma, a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer. Eliminating this protein could lead to a potential treatment through antibody therapy, offering hope for patients with this devastating disease.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalMolecular Cancer Research·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 26, 2023

A two-for-one approach to boost melanoma immunotherapy

A new study from Sanford Burnham Prebys identified a protein called NR2F6 that helps melanoma cells evade the immune system, but also promotes anti-tumor immunity when targeted. The researchers hope to develop new drugs that can block this protein's activity, potentially doubling the effectiveness of immunotherapy for melanoma patients.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 5, 2023

Combination therapy effective against canine melanoma

A study published in Cancers found that a combination of radiotherapy followed by immunotherapy is effective against oral malignant melanomas in dogs. The treatment strategy increased overall survival time compared to immunotherapy alone. Researchers are now exploring the optimal protocol for this therapy to increase its effectiveness.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalCancers·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 22, 2023

Study uncovers how B cells react to skin cancer

A new study reveals that antibody-producing B cells in patients with melanoma may be defective, leading to ineffective responses against the disease. The research finds that active B cells accumulate at the edge of tumors and gather in small groups, carrying specific antibody features that react with T cells and other immune cells.

SourceKing's College London·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 8, 2023

Personalized vaccines may revolutionize cancer treatment

Researchers have made a breakthrough in treating melanoma by adding an mRNA vaccine tailored to individual tumour genetics to common immunotherapy, significantly improving survival and disease recurrence rates. After two years, cancer-free survival increased to 78.6%, and the risk of death or cancer returning was reduced by 44%.

SourceEdith Cowan University·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 8, 2023

Gene engineered cell therapy developed to target brain metastatic melanomas

Scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a new immuno-therapeutic approach using twin stem cells that can target brain metastatic melanomas. The therapy, which uses an engineered 'twin stem cell model,' activates the immune system to suppress tumor growth and prolong survival in representative preclinical models.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 31, 2023

In a ‘rapid autopsy’ study, UCLA researchers identify lethal molecular alterations after present-day therapies fail patients with metastatic melanoma

Researchers analyzed genetic changes in organs of recently deceased patients with metastatic cutaneous melanoma to understand how the disease spreads and evolves. They found that cancer cells take advantage of specific organ environments, pointing to the need for distinct treatment approaches.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNature Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 27, 2023

USPSTF statement on screening for skin cancer

The USPSTF finds the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of visual skin examination by a clinician to screen for skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S., with melanomas causing the most skin cancer deaths.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateApr 18, 2023

SWOG S1512 trial sees high response rate to pembrolizumab in patients with unresectable desmoplastic melanoma

A recent clinical trial found that nearly 90% of patients with unresectable desmoplastic melanoma responded to treatment with pembrolizumab. The immunotherapy drug showed impressive results in both treatable and inoperable cases, suggesting a promising treatment option for this rare form of skin cancer.

SourceSWOG Cancer Research Network·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 16, 2023

Prior treatments influence immunotherapy response in advanced melanoma

A study published in Cancer Cell found that prior treatments, such as CTLA-4 blockade, modify the response to anti-PD-1 checkpoint blockade therapy. The research analyzed data from over 500 patients and identified key factors associated with treatment response. This finding may help scientists create more precise future treatments.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalCancer Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 10, 2023

Novel immunotherapy delivery approach safe and beneficial for some melanoma patients with leptomeningeal disease

Researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have developed a novel approach to administer intrathecal and intravenous immunotherapy to treat leptomeningeal disease (LMD) in melanoma patients, showing promising results in improving survival rates and quality of life for some patients.

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy improves outlook in high-risk melanoma

Patients with stage IIIB-IV melanoma who received neoadjuvant pembrolizumab had a significantly lower risk of cancer recurrence compared to those receiving adjuvant therapy only. The study found improved event-free survival rates in the neoadjuvant group, suggesting that starting immunotherapy before surgery generates better outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 1, 2023

Immunotherapy before surgery significantly improves outcomes of patients with melanoma

Researchers found that adding immunotherapy before surgical removal of stage III-IV melanoma significantly improved event-free survival compared to standard-of-care treatment. The study showed that neoadjuvant therapy is superior to the same therapy given in the adjuvant setting.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 1, 2023

Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab administered before surgery improves outcomes of melanoma patients

A phase 2 clinical trial shows that treating resectable stage 3 and 4 melanoma patients with pembrolizumab both before and after surgery greatly improves outcomes compared to pembrolizumab given only after surgery. This approach resulted in significantly longer event-free survival rates.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 1, 2023

Use of methotrexate is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer

A study by University of Gothenburg researchers found a significant association between methotrexate use and an increased risk of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and cutaneous malignant melanoma. The study suggests that higher doses of methotrexate may increase the risk of SCC and BCC, while no dose-response relationship...

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalBritish Journal of Cancer·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 7, 2023

Enhanced cancer immunotherapies through cytokine-labeled T cells

A new method utilizes an unnatural sugar to anchor cytokines to T cells, enhancing their functions without systemic side-effects. The approach has shown promise in stimulating the host immune system against tumor cells and inhibiting tumor growth in mice with melanoma.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 10, 2023

Patient’s own immune cells effective as living medicine for melanoma

The TIL trial has demonstrated that cell therapy using patient's own immune cells is an extremely powerful immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma, with significant shrinkage of metastases in half of patients. Progression-free survival after six months was 53%, significantly better than standard immunotherapy with ipilimumab.

SourceNetherlands Cancer Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 7, 2022

Making melanoma immortal: Pitt scientists discover key genetic step in cancer’s race to live forever

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have discovered a genetic link between melanoma tumors and telomere maintenance, which could lead to new treatments for the disease. The study found that mutations in the TPP1 gene stimulate telomerase activity, promoting long telomeres that enable cancer cells to divide in...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalScience·DateNov 10, 2022

Artificial intelligence approach may help identify melanoma survivors who face a high risk of cancer recurrence

A team from Massachusetts General Hospital developed an AI-based method to predict which patients with early-stage melanoma are most likely to experience a recurrence. Machine learning algorithms extracted predictive signals from clinicopathologic features, including tumor thickness and rate of cancer cell division.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·Journalnpj Precision Oncology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 31, 2022

Moffitt researchers discover connection between stress-activated signaling and immune cell evasion in melanoma

Researchers found that high PERK activity correlates with poorer outcomes and lower anti-tumor immune cells in patients with melanoma. Inhibition of PERK promoted a type of cell death called paraptosis, which involved trafficking of immune cells to tumors and matured dendritic cells triggering anti-tumor T cell immunity.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalCancer Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2022