In a nutshell This study investigated whether a reduced follow-up schedule affects melanoma patient outcomes, detection of recurrences (when the cancer comes back) and follow-up costs. Researchers suggested that reduced follow-up visits, besides reducing significantly hospital costs, did not affect patients’ outcomes and recurrence...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the overall survival and clinical characteristics of metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) melanoma patients undergoing therapy with dabrafenib (Tafinlar) combined with trametinib (Mekinist). Researchers suggested that the combined treatment is associated with improved overall survival when compared to...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the prognosis of patients with thicker (more than 4 mm deep) melanoma. Researchers suggested that SLNB provides important prognostic information for patients with melanoma. Some background Melanoma thickness is a factor that predicts the presence of lymph...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the effectiveness of the combination treatment of AdCD40L (a gene therapy and chemotherapy) in advanced melanoma. The authors found out that the gene therapy was well tolerated with beneficial treatment outcome. Some background In advanced melanoma (stage 3 or 4), the cancer spreads from the skin to...
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In a nutshell The authors analyzed the outcome of a type of radiation therapy for the treatment of melanoma spread to the brain. The authors found out that the treatment was effective and well-tolerated, especially in patients with low numbers of tumors in brain and whose tumors were on the outside of the brain (extracerebral). Some background...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to analyze the risk factors for spread of thin melanoma to nearby lymph nodes. They found that tumor thickness of 0.75 mm or greater and rapid growth of cancer cells could be among the probable factors. Some background In skin melanoma, sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) are the first lymph nodes (tiny,...
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In a nutshell The authors assessed the effect of isolated limb perfusion (a technique to administer drugs) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in melanoma patients. The authors concluded that ILP caused an initial decrease in HRQoL followed by a steady maintenance after 12 months of treatment. Some background Isolated limb...
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In a nutshell The authors assessed the effect of vemurafenib (Zelboraf) in metastatic (spread to other areas of the body) melanoma patients prior to surgery. The authors found that surgery to remove metastatic tumors is safe and effective during or just after treatment with vemurafenib. Some background In advanced melanoma (stages 3 to...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The authors compared the effect of narrow and wide surgical margins on long-term survival of advanced melanoma patients. The authors found that for melanoma of 2 mm thickness or greater, the surgical margin should be 2 cm. Some background The standard treatment for skin cancer remains surgical removal of the tumor along with some of...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study investigated the relationship between lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and cancer-specific survival. Researchers concluded that LDH can be used as an early indicator of cancer outcomes. Some background Early cancer detection methods have significantly improved cancer survival rates. There is increasing evidence to...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This phase 1 and 2 clinical trial recruiting in Lousiville, Kentucky will evaluate the safety of vemurafenib (Zelboraf) in combination with metformin (Glucophage) in advanced melanoma patients. The primary goal of phase 1 is to observe severe or life-threatening adverse events (grade 4) in 6 melanoma patients receiving vemurafenib with...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the effect of percutaneous hepatic perfusion (PHP, a method of treating melanoma that has spread to the liver) with melphalan (Alkeran). This study found that PHP with melphalan improved outcomes in melanoma patients with cancer spread to the liver. Some background In advanced melanoma (stage 3/4), cancer...
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