Melanoma & Skin Cancer

GlaxoSmithKline is seeking the FDA's approval for single-agent use of dabrafenib and trametinib, two targeted therapies for the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma who harbor BRAF V600 gene mutations.

It is difficult to overstate the excitement surrounding the development of two new effective therapeutic strategies in the management of metastatic melanoma.

Field-directed treatment with the investigational topical agent ingenol mebutate has been shown to be effective for actinic keratoses on the head and body.

Dr. Mark Kris, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, on the Combination of Molecularly Targeted Therapies.

Dr. Steven Grunberg, from the Vermont Cancer Center, Describes the 2012 Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Symposium.

Immunotherapy is maintaining its momentum in clinical development programs, with explorations under way in many tumor types, including breast and lung cancers previously considered poor candidates for such modalities.

Dr. Axel Hauschild, from University Hospital, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Discusses the BREAK-3 Trial That Investigated the BRAF Inhibitor Dabrafenib.

Dr. Suzanne Topalian, from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, on the PD-1 Targeted Immunotherapy BMS-936558.

Kathleen Madden, from NYU Langone Medical Center, on the Importance Educating Patients About Ipilimumab's Side Effects.

Dr. Julie Brahmer, from the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, on the PD-1 Immunotherapy BMS-93655 Clinical Trial

Trametinib and dabrafenib delayed disease progression and showed a trend toward improved survival in patients with advanced melanoma.

Dr. Caroline Robert, from the Institute Gustave Roussy in Paris, France, Discusses the MEK Inhibitor, Trametinib, METRIC Trial Results.

Dr. Suzanne Topalian, from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, on the PD-1 Targeted Therapy BMS-936558

An immunotherapy agent that targets the PD-1 pathway demonstrated response rates as high as 28% in an early-phase study involving patients with different tumor types.

Dr. Michael Rotkowitz, from Cancer Treatment Centers of America, on Dabrafenib and Trametinib Combination Side Effects

Researchers find that people who took NSAIDs were less likely to develop skin cancer.

Krista Rubin, from Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, on Understanding Ipilimumab's Toxicities.

At this year's annual NCCN conference, the organization presented updates in 13 areas, including specific disease states and general screening methods.

Ipilimumab generates antitumor activity in some patients with advanced melanoma whose disease has metastasized to the brain without resulting in unexpected toxicities.

Within a given county in the United States, the presence of a dermatologist is associated with a lower melanoma mortality rate compared with counties where there is no dermatologist.

Dr. Michael Rotkowitz, from Cancer Treatment Centers of America, on the Dabrafenib Plus Trametinib Combination for Melanoma

A combination of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib and the MEK inhibitor trametinib has shown promising activity in patients with advanced melanoma.

Dr. Paul Chapman, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, on Combining BRAF and MEK Inhibitors for Advanced Melanoma

After a long fight with melanoma, the Roman Catholic parish priest Father Arthur Humphrey was able to receive the immunotherapeutic agent Yervoy, which greatly improved his prognosis.

Vemurafenib continues to demonstrate clinical response and overall survival benefits for patients with metastatic melanoma.