In a nutshell In this study the authors reviewed different treatment options, causes and outcome of mucosal melanoma – a form of cancer that affects mucous membranes like the nose, mouth, vagina and anus. Some background Mucosal melanoma is a rare cancer that occurs in particular tissues in the body (mucosal), lining the head and...
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In a nutshell The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of nivolumab (Opdivo) as secondary treatment in advanced melanoma. Some background In the advanced stage of melanoma (stage III/IV), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of the body. BRAF inhibitors and immunotherapy are the standard treatments for...
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In a nutshell The aim of this study was to assess the benefits of dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist) as single as well as as combination therapy in advanced melanoma patients with a specific genetic status. Some background In the advanced stage of melanoma (stage III/IV), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of...
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In a nutshell The objective of this study was to determine the safe surgical margin in skin melanoma (2-4 mm thickness) and provide guidelines on the management of affected adjacent lymph nodes. Some background Melanoma is a type of cancer that starts in color-producing cells of the skin. It can grow deep into the inner layers of skin and...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The authors aimed to assess the effect of ipilimumab (Yervoy) as an additional therapy after surgery in advanced (stage III) melanoma patients who were at a high risk of relapse. Some background In the advanced stage of melanoma (stage III), cancer spreads from the skin to nearby lymph nodes (tiny, bean-shaped organs that help fight...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The authors aimed to assess the long-term risk of death associated with a type of radiation therapy in eye melanoma patients. Some background Uveal melanoma is cancer of the eye involving three parts of an eye (iris, ciliary body or choroid)-together known as uvea. Radiation therapy is the standard treatment in uveal melanoma....
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to analyze all published case reports of primary melanoma of the urethra to understand the outcome of this disease better. Some background Mucosal melanoma is a rare cancer that occurs in particular tissues in the body (mucosal), like those that line the inside of the nose, the mouth, the vagina and the...
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In a nutshell The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), a diagnostic procedure, in thick melanoma (thickness ≥ 4mm). Some background Melanoma is a type of cancer that starts in color-producing cells of the skin. It can grow deep into the inner layers of skin and spread into lymph nodes (tiny,...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to evaluate survival benefits of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) compared to ipilimumab (Yervoy) in advanced melanoma. Some background In the advanced stage of melanoma (stage III/IV), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of the body. One of the standard treatments for advanced melanoma is immunotherapy that uses...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to find out if the treatment outcome in melanoma patients is linked with presence and extent of mutations in a gene called TERT. Some background Melanoma is a type of cancer that starts in color-producing cells of the skin. Mutations (permanent change) in several genes are reported to be associated with melanoma;...
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In a nutshell The objective of this study was to find out if number of birthmarks/moles is associated with survival in skin cancer. Some background Melanoma is a type of skin cancer in the color producing cells of the skins. Increased number of nevi (birthmarks/ moles) is generally associated with the risk of developing melanoma. The number...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to compare safety of a combination therapy over a single therapy in advanced melanoma patients. Some background In the advanced stage of melanoma (stage III/IV), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of the body. In the majority of advanced melanoma patients, BRAF genes are mutated (permanently...
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