In a nutshell This study compared the safety of two different doses of nivolumab (Opdivo) plus ipilimumab (Yervoy) for patients with advanced melanoma. This study concluded that patients treated with nivolumab at 3mg/kg and ipilimumab at 1mg/kg had fewer side effects. Some background Advanced melanoma can be difficult to treat....
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Isolated limb infusion in patients with growing melanoma in one limb
In a nutshell This study evaluated the long-term outcomes of isolated limb infusion in patients with melanoma. This study found that this treatment was effective and safe. Some background Patients with melanoma can develop cancer that spreads or comes back after initial treatment as many small tumors. Removing these tumors by surgery is not...
Read MoreWhat are the benefits of combined dabrafenib and trametinib on patient-reported outcomes?
In a nutshell This study investigated the effect of dabrafenib (Tafinlar and trametinib (Mekinist) on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in melanoma. They found that this treatment combination did not effect PROs. Some background Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. The prognosis for melanoma has improved in recent years. Targeted therapies...
Read MoreEvaluating immunotherapy with surgery for melanoma in the brain
In a nutshell This study investigated whether surgery before immunotherapy was more effective than immunotherapy alone for patients with melanoma that spread to the brain. This study concluded that patients who had surgery before immunotherapy survived for longer than patients who only had immunotherapy. Some background Melanoma is one of...
Read MoreCan we predict treatment response using circulating tumor DNA in patients with melanoma?
In a nutshell This study investigated the use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to predict treatment response in advanced melanoma. They found that ctDNA levels can predict survival in these patients. Some background Melanoma is categorized, like many cancers, in stages. At stage 3 and above, survival rates can vary depending on...
Read MoreReviewing treatment options for patients with in-transit melanoma
In a nutshell This study reviewed treatment options for patients with in-transit melanoma. This study found that using treatments targeted to a specific area of the body may improve survival for these patients. Some background In-transit melanoma (ITM) is a type of cancer that is in the process of spreading throughout the body (metastasis). It can be...
Read MoreInfluenza vaccination and immune-checkpoint inhibitors – what are the risks to patients with cancer?
In a nutshell This study investigated the effect of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) on influenza vaccination in patients with cancer. They found that influenza vaccination is safe in these patients Some background Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a new type of drug to treat cancer. ICIs can be effective in some advanced cancers,...
Read MoreSide effects with vemurafenib/cobimetinib in advanced melanoma: is there an impact on survival?
In a nutshell This study investigated the impact of adverse events (AEs) of treatment with vemurafenib (Zelboraf) and cobimetinib (Cotellic) on survival in patients with melanoma. They found that early side effects requiring dose reduction had a positive effect on treatment outcomes. Some background Some melanoma tumors are caused by...
Read MoreIs ultrasound surveillance of lymph nodes safe in patients with medium-risk melanoma?
In a nutshell This study wanted to find out if performing ultrasounds and performing clinical exams is a safe option to catch cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes in patients with melanoma. The study found that a significant number of tumors were found in lymph nodes by performing this type of surveillance. Some background The most common...
Read MoreTVEC therapy for patients with advanced stage melanoma
In a nutshell This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of talimogene laherparepvec (TVEC) therapy for patients with melanoma that cannot be surgically removed (unresectable). The study found that TVEC therapy is an effective treatment for these patients, with minimal side effects. Some background Patients with localized melanoma that is...
Read MoreTVEC therapy for patients with advanced stage melanoma
In a nutshell This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of talimogene laherparepvec (TVEC) therapy for patients with melanoma that cannot be surgically removed (unresectable). The study found that TVEC therapy is an effective treatment for these patients, with minimal side effects. Some background Patients with localized melanoma that is...
Read MoreSurvival in patients with melanoma treated with pembrolizumab
In a nutshell This study wanted to find out what the survival rates are of patients with melanoma treated with pembrolizumab (Keytruda). The study found that after 5 years, there was a good response to treatment overall. Some background Pembrolizumab is a new cancer treatment. It treats many different types of cancer. It works by using the immune...
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