Skin Cancer

Early study results indicate the potential for a new class of inhibitory compounds to enhance the effect of anti-tumor drugs in melanoma treatment. What the future may hold.

While much progress has been made since interleukin-2 was used to treat melanoma, physicians are still weighing the advantages and disadvantages of monotherapy versus combination therapies.

Minimally invasive radiation therapy techniques may be viable alternatives for treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers in a variety of situations.

Modified PDT protocols prove promising for AK treatment, maintaining high clearance rates while reducing cost, one expert says.

Following guidelines will help to ensure more consistent outcomes, expert says. Biopsy success rests less on the type of biopsy than the expertise of the physician. Read the recommendations.

A new study reveals that toxin-producing bacteria like staphylococcus may fuel CTCL; therefore, antibacterial treatment may slow disease progression. Findings could one day change how you treat patients.

Dr. Hensin Tsao, shares his insight on why skin cancer cases are increasing, how new immunotherapy treatments bring hope and why dermatologists should be on the look out for new challenges.

Melanoma patients with fewer than 50 nevi may develop more aggressive melanomas than those with greater than 50 nevi, underscoring the need for education and consideration for skin cancer screening in all patients based on their overall risk.

Concerns have been raised over an FDA Drug Safety Communication about spontaneously submitted adverse reactions in patients using this topical treatment for actinic keratosis as well as labeling changes that were implemented because of those reports. One expert offers perspective.

The medical landscape has changed dramatically for advanced melanoma since 2011, with both individual and combination therapy regimens gaining approval in even recent months. While modern genomics knowledge and knowledge of the immune system have brought about significant improvements in response and longer survival periods for some patients, there is still no cure.

Study finds women diagnosed with malignant melanoma during their pregnancy or within one year of giving birth were more than five times more likely to die than women who weren't pregnant. Routine skin examinations may need to be included as part of postpartum appointments.

While highly sensitive technology is important for detecting melanoma, methods with poor sensitivity can lead to unnecessary biopsies, treatments, cost, as well as morbidity. Several technologies are available to improve sensitivity and specificity, some of which are used as second-level tests.

New technologies for managing skin cancer were a topic of discussion at a scientific session at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery’s 2015 annual meeting in Chicago in October. Seaver L. Soon, M.D., division of dermatology and dermatologic surgery at Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, Calif., was one of the moderators for the scientific discussion titled, “The Cutting Edge: New Technologies for Managing Skin Cancer.” Learn more

A new study suggests patients with darker skin types are more prone than those with lighter skin to acral pigmented lesions, and many people are unaware those lesions exist.

We’re looking back on what made the biggest impacts on dermatology in 2015. This is what your peers had to say.

Expert offers colleagues insight about the runner’s mentality on sunscreen and best practices for educating your local community

Transparent bioadhesive nanoparticles may offer alternative sun safety technology without the chemical exposure; questions remain

The ASDS, AAD, and other dermatology societies offer a wide variety of resources and programs that dermatologists can implement and get involved in to prevent skin cancer in their communities.

Survival rates for lentigo maligna (LM) melanoma-type melanomas vary. Acral lentiginous melanoma has a significantly worse survival rate than other melanoma subtypes with race appearing to play a role. Another factor may be poor awareness.

Lentigo maligna (LM) and acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) can be challenging to diagnosis and treat, according to experts. Here, they offer insight into incidence, presentation, and management options. Learn more

It’s believed that viruses cause 15-20% of all cancer cases worldwide. New technologies have helped illuminate hundreds of new viruses and researchers are only beginning to understand how those resident in the skin may cause dermatologic disorders

In the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer, “the fastest-moving area-and the neatest from a science standpoint-is the class of drugs called hedgehog pathway inhibitors.”

Clinicians agree that multi-disciplinary teams are the optimal approach to managing advanced melanoma, for they aim for consistent messaging to patients about treatment and require that physicians who are members of the team support their therapeutic choices with evidence. However, obstacles include geographical challenges in community care, treatment sequencing and bias, and physician communication.

Because skin malignancies often herald internal or systemic malignancies, knowing the link between primary and metastatic sites can impact staging, prognosis and management – and in some cases, save lives.

Immunosuppressed patient with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma succumbs to death. Was the dermatologist who did his skin evaluations negligent?