Melanoma News and Research

Latest Melanoma News and Research

Study reports longer survival for obese men with metastatic melanoma

Obese patients with metastatic melanoma who are treated with targeted or immune therapies live significantly longer than those with a normal body mass index, investigators report in a study published in Lancet Oncology of 1,918 patients in six independent clinical cohorts.

13 Feb 2018

Scientists program nanorobots to shrink tumors

In a major advancement in nanomedicine, Arizona State University scientists, in collaboration with researchers from the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have successfully programmed nanorobots to shrink tumors by cutting off their blood supply.

12 Feb 2018

Scientists develop ultrasound-propelled nanomotors for active delivery of Cas9-sgRNA complex

In cancer research, the “Cas-9–sgRNA” complex is an effective genomic editing tool, but its delivery across the cell membrane to the target (tumor) genome has not yet been satisfactorily solved. American and Danish scientists have now developed an active nanomotor for the efficient transport, delivery, and release of this gene scissoring system.

9 Feb 2018

New tool to monitor patterns and trends of cancer burden across Europe

On the occasion of the World Cancer Day, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre launched the European Cancer Information System (ECIS), which makes it possible to explore geographical patterns and temporal trends of cancer incidence, mortality, and survival from data submitted by some 150 European population-based cancer registries.

6 Feb 2018

Researchers use innovative method to screen kinases for cancer drug's effectiveness

In recent years, a powerful suite of drugs known as kinase inhibitors have been developed to treat cancer and other diseases. Primary targets of such drugs include a family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) which protrude from cell surfaces like antennae and can activate cancer-related pathways in virtually all types of cancer when signaling molecules bind with them.

5 Feb 2018

Study lays groundwork for using PD-1 inhibitors against aggressive form of pediatric brain cancer

One type of immunotherapy removes a genetic blindfold that cancer uses to hide from the immune system. These "PD-1 inhibitors", including drugs like pembrolizumab, nivolumab and atezolizumab, have proven useful and have even in some cases revolutionized the treatment of common adult cancers ranging from melanoma, to lung cancer, to kidney cancer and more.

30 Jan 2018

Scientists aim to decipher language of DNA

Yes, DNA has its own language and scientists want to understand it to apply personalized therapeutic solutions based on the analysis of the individual's genomic biomarkers and their regulation.

24 Jan 2018

Researchers discover potential target genes to halt thyroid cancer progression

Thyroid cancer is a disease with good cure rates in most cases. In 5% of patients, however, the tumor becomes refractory to the available therapies and may spread all over the body, causing death.

19 Jan 2018

Researchers develop new mathematical tool to solve genetics challenge

Researchers developed a new mathematical tool to validate and improve methods used by medical professionals to interpret results from clinical genetic tests. The work was published this month in Genetics in Medicine.

19 Jan 2018

Pretreatment improves outcomes in high-risk stage 3 melanoma, study shows

A pair of targeted therapies given before and after surgery for melanoma produced at least a six-fold increase in time to progression compared to standard-of-care surgery for patients with stage 3 disease, researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report in Lancet Oncology.

18 Jan 2018

Findings reveal conventional cancer therapy as double-edged sword

Researchers have discovered that killing cancer cells can actually have the unintended effect of fueling the proliferation of residual, living cancer cells, ultimately leading to aggressive tumor progression.

18 Jan 2018

Penn scientists identify new therapeutic target for treatment of melanoma

Researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have identified a new therapeutic target for the treatment of melanoma.

16 Jan 2018

Patients with desmoplastic melanoma respond well to immunotherapy

Desmoplastic melanoma is a rare subtype of melanoma that is commonly found on sun-exposed areas, such as the head and neck, and usually seen in older patients.

11 Jan 2018

AAD releases new guidelines of care for management of nonmelanoma skin cancer

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most common type of skin cancer, affecting more than 3 million Americans every year.

10 Jan 2018

New report shows little improvement in survival among young adults with cancer

Outcomes for children and older adults with cancer have improved greatly over the past three decades, but there's been little improvement in survival among adolescents and young adults with cancer.

10 Jan 2018

Scientists use artificial intelligence to create new ‘ImmunoMap’

Johns Hopkins scientists have used a form of artificial intelligence to create a map that compares types of cellular receptors, the chemical "antennas" on the surface of immune system T-cells.

8 Jan 2018

Beta blockers may improve survival for melanoma patients

A common, inexpensive drug that is used to prevent heart attacks and lower blood pressure may also help melanoma patients live longer, according to researchers.

8 Jan 2018

Newly identified biomarkers predict cancer patient’s response to immunotherapy

Researchers at the University of Zurich have identified biomarkers in the blood that make it possible to predict whether cancer patients will respond positively to immunotherapy.

8 Jan 2018

Specific bacteria in the intestines can improve response rate to cancer immunotherapy

In the Jan. 5, 2018 issue of Science, researchers from the University of Chicago Medicine show that specific strains of commensal bacteria – the swarms of microorganisms naturally dwelling in the intestines – can improve the response rate to immunotherapy for patients being treated for advanced melanoma.

5 Jan 2018