In a nutshell The authors analyzed the factors that affect the survival outcomes in the early stages of skin melanoma. Some background The occurrence of early stage cutaneous (skin) melanoma is increasing. Tumor thickness (how deep the cancer reaches into the skin) at this stage is usually less than 1 mm. In early stage...
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In a nutshell The authors reviewed published data on melanomas of penis and male urethra. Some background Melanomas of the glans penis and male urethra are very rare, accounting for less than 0.1% of all melanomas. The glans penis is the area at the tip of the penis. The male urethra is a muscular tube that...
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In a nutshell The authors reviewed the current and future treatment options for different types of skin cancers in the face and head. Some background Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. Based on where in the skin the cancer grows, skin cancer can be melanotic or non–melanotic. Melanotic skin cancer (melanoma)...
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In a nutshell The authors analyzed the relationship between melanoma deaths and sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases (spread of cancer) in melanoma patients of all ages. Some background SLN is the first lymph node or nodes (tiny, bean-shaped organs that help fight infection) cancer cells spread in to. The presence of SLN is...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the factors that could predict development of brain metastasis in melanoma patients. Some background In advanced melanoma, cancer often spreads to the brain (brain metastasis). The functional changes in the body that accompany the symptoms of brain metastasis are currently unknown. However, if patients are...
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In our previous post, Making Sense of ASCO 2015 Findings: Part 1, we began our report on specific studies presented at The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 51st Annual Meeting. How should this information be interpreted? At conferences like ASCO, scientific discoveries are usually presented before publication and without complete peer review...
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In a nutshell The authors reviewed treatment options for melanomas of the gynecological tract (female reproductive systems). Some background Melanomas of the gynecological tract (vagina, vulva, ovary and cervix) are very rare cancers that occur in tissues called mucous membranes. They are fast-growing cancers that usually occur in...
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In a nutshell The authors examined the safety of ipilimumab (Yervoy) and the associated skin-related adverse events in the treatment of melanoma. Some background In advanced melanoma, cancer spreads from deep within the skin to other parts of the body. Ipilimumab, an immunotherapy (treatment that uses body’s own...
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In a nutshell The authors assessed the accuracy of the system used to classify the stages of mucosal melanoma of the female reproductive system. Some background Mucosal melanomas of the vagina and vulva (the external part of female genital organs) are rare cancer, accounting for 1-3% of all melanomas in women. These melanomas occur...
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In a nutshell The authors assessed which factors affect the outcome of mucosal melanoma. Some background Mucosal melanoma is a very rare cancer accounting for roughly 1% of all melanomas. It occurs in particular tissues in the body (mucosal tissue), lining the head and neck, nostrils, oral cavity, vagina, anus, gastrointestinal tract and...
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In a nutshell The authors discussed isolated limb perfusion, a procedure used to deliver high doses of drugs straight to the site of the tumor in patients with melanoma. Some background Melanoma is sensitive to chemotherapy but it needs higher doses of chemotherapy than other types of cancer. Isolated limb perfusion is a complex...
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In a nutshell The authors examined the occurrence of squamous cell cancer (SCC) in melanoma survivors and the factors associated with the risk of developing SCC. Some background SCC is a cancer of the squamous cells that are present in the outer layer of the skin. Patients with melanoma (cancer of the color-producing cells which are further deep...
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