Skin Cancer

Treatment for metastatic melanoma has begun a dramatic renaissance with the development of novel immunotherapy strategies and targeted therapeutic approaches.

The commercialization of ingenol mebutate (Picato, LEO Pharma) a medication that is currently approved in the United States and many other countries for the treatment of actinic keratosis, is an example of how enthusiasm and commitment can drive innovation, a LEO Pharma general manager says.

At the MauiDerm 2014 meeting, conference organizer George Martin, M.D., shared five clinical pearls for treating facial actinic keratosis (AK).

In an effort to learn more about patients’ experiences with advanced basal cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma nevus syndrome, researchers have developed two new questionnaires to evaluate and assess the effects of the diseases.

Dermoscopy can be a useful and reliable tool to differentiate between superficial basal cell carcinoma and other basal cell carcinoma subtypes, according to a recent study.

There are more tanning facilities than McDonald’s restaurants in the state of Florida, according to recent research.

While government funds for research in dermatology and other medical specialties seems to be dwindling, there are forces at work that could help to pick up at least part of the slack.

A new tumor staging system for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) has recently been put forward that, according to one recent study, improves prognostic discrimination by more precisely defining the small subset of tumors with a high risk of metastatic and death.

Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) share a similar histological picture. But unlike AFX, UPS can have an aggressive clinical course, underscoring the importance of initial accurate diagnosis of these tumors, and the implementation of appropriate therapy.

Researchers may have found a new technique for identifying suspicious-looking moles: crowdsourcing.

A team of dermatologists is beta testing a website designed as a tool to provide early detection of skin cancer.

A new study suggests that topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) may increase the risk of morpheaform basal cell carcinoma (mBCC) in patients with previous skin cancers.

A newly launched diagnostic test by Myriad Genetics can differentiate malignant melanoma from benign skin lesions.

A brief, online skin cancer course improved the diagnostic skills of primary care physicians, without impacting dermatology referrals, a recent study suggests.

Researchers have identified a functional biomarker that can predict whether BRAF-mutant melanomas respond to drugs targeting the gene. The finding could help guide treatment of patients with these cancers.

Except in limited instances, an expert says, topical therapies for medical management of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) work best as adjuncts to surgery.

Some misconceptions have sprung up about sunscreen SPF values. Curtis Cole, Ph.D., sees a need to dispel some myths, and a need for for dermatologists to do a better job of educating their patients about sun protection.

An attempt to positively affect stage 2 melanomas with a certain vaccine didn’t prove beneficial in a recent study by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).

New research suggests that the body’s internal clock and its circadian rhythms adjust the modulation of skin stem cells based on the time of day - and that disruption to this cycle can cause tissue aging and lead to predisposition to skin cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration has granted 510(k) clearance to Nucletron for Esteya, an electronic brachytherapy system for high-precision skin cancer treatment.

Long-term analysis of patients with advanced melanoma taking ipilimumab demonstrated survival rates of up to 10 years, according to recent research.

Dermatologists are using an evolving collection of combination therapies designed to address different aspects of disease, monotherapy limitations and failures, as well as enhance treatment.

Sulforaphane, a naturally occurring compound in broccoli, may offer potential as a sunscreen additive, recent research indicates.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Council on Science and Research’s Research Agenda work group has identified three keys areas - pruritus, cutaneous oncology and performance measurement and outcomes - to target in the future for continuing research in the dermatology specialty.

Melanoma is a hot topic on Twitter and thanks to hashtags, it’s easy to see what everyone is saying about the disease. Here are some recent posts about #melanoma that we found interesting this week.

Photographs of skin cancers caused patients to be more likely to conduct skin self-examinations, according to results of a recent study.

A new genetic test can identify patients with nonmetastatic melanoma who are at high risk of recurrence, according to validation data presented at the 2013 summer meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Various approaches are being initiated to treat wild-type, BRAF mutated melanoma, according to the director of the Melanoma Program and co-leader of the Signal Transduction Program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Efforts to prevent and chemoprevent melanoma are ongoing, and though much still needs to be done, one expert says some inroads are being made that may impact mortality, morbidity and quality of life.

Patients with skin cancer have better odds of survival if they have more than one primary tumor, according to results of a recent study.