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Doctors define 'safe and effective' margins for 'one and done' skin removal around suspicious moles

A study led by NYU Langone Health found that removing a 2mm margin from suspicious moles can completely remove cancer cells with a single procedure. Researchers monitored patients for over a year and found no further suspicious growths, with 90% of biopsied moles being completely removed.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology·DateOct 2, 2017

Researchers look to protect 'self-reactive' immune cells so they can fight melanoma

Researchers at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered a way to protect T-cells that are normally blocked from attacking melanoma cells, allowing them to go on to attack cancer. By combining this strategy with an existing immunotherapy treatment, they found that it can shrink melanoma tumors and prolong survival in p...

Spider peptides battle superbugs and cancer

Researchers have improved the properties of an AMP from a spider, making it more effective against bacteria and cancer cells. The modified peptide was found to be 10 times better at killing most bacteria than the previous cyclic form, while also selectively targeting certain types of cancer cells.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Chemical Biology·DateAug 9, 2017

Compound shows promise in treating melanoma

Researchers at Penn State have developed a compound that inhibits tumor growth by 69% in a mouse model and killed human melanoma cells. The compound targets the Akt1 pathway and human topoisomerase IIα activity, contributing to melanoma tumor growth.

SourcePenn State·JournalEuropean Journal of Medicinal Chemistry·DateJul 26, 2017

Immunity against melanoma is only skin deep

A new study by Dartmouth researchers reveals that resident memory T cells reside in the skin, where they can quickly eliminate melanoma cells. This finding suggests that these immune cells play a crucial role in protecting against future tumors and may serve as a target for future cancer therapies.

SourceDartmouth Health·JournalScience Immunology·DateApr 14, 2017

Researchers document how melanoma tumors form

A team of researchers at the University of Iowa documented how melanoma cells form tumors in a 3D model, finding similarities with breast tissue cancer cells. They identified two drugs, anti-beta 1 integrin/(CD29) and anti-CD44, that block tumor creation in both types of cancer.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 3, 2017

Detecting melanoma early, without a biopsy

Colorado State University researcher Jesse Wilson is developing a new microscope that can distinguish between benign and malignant pigmented skin lesions without a biopsy. The pump-probe technology uses a simpler laser source that's already widely used in telecommunications applications, making it more realistic for melanoma applications.

Natural killer cells have a memory

Researchers discovered that natural killer cells can remember and target pigmented skin cells, potentially treating malignant melanoma and vitiligo. The immune system uses the NLRP3 inflammasome as a checkpoint to trigger this response.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalImmunity·DateJun 7, 2016

Study shows why immune-boosting therapy doesn't work for everyone with widespread melanoma

A recent study published at ASCO found that gene dysregulation causes immune T cells to turn back to an immature state, making them less effective against metastatic melanoma. The researchers discovered over 60 epigenetic changes and 10 changes in gene activity that were most common among patients who didn't respond to immunotherapy.

Two-drug immunotherapy deemed safe for lung cancer patients, Moffitt study shows

A Moffitt Cancer Center study found that combining nivolumab and ipilimumab is an active treatment option for small cell lung cancer patients who have failed initial therapy. The two-drug immunotherapy regimen resulted in responses that lasted longer than many other investigational agents, with 20% of patients showing a response.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateJun 2, 2016

New treatment for advanced melanoma shows promise

A study published in JAMA found that pembrolizumab, an antibody against PD-1, was associated with a 33% objective response rate and 23-month median overall survival in patients with advanced melanoma. The treatment also showed improved progression-free survival rates of 35% at 12 months and 52% at 12 months

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateApr 19, 2016

Preeminent experts provide roadmap for future melanoma research

The white paper outlines key takeaways, including the importance of proper sunscreen use to reduce melanoma risk by up to 50%, developing more precise diagnosis methods, and overcoming immunotherapy resistance. The research aims to advance treatment and potentially cure melanoma by understanding its unique characteristics.

SourceWiley·JournalPigment Cell & Melanoma Research·DateApr 18, 2016

Cancer in 3-D

A new microscope enables the visualization of cancer cells in 3D, revealing that these cells form small protrusions called blebs in a more realistic tumor environment. This discovery is a first step toward understanding 3D biology in tumor microenvironments and may help explain skin cancer cell invasiveness and drug resistance.

SourceCell Press·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateFeb 22, 2016