This recent clinical trial evaluated whether continuous or intermittent BRAF and MEK inhibition in patients with BRAF-mutated melanoma improved progression-free survival. Results showed continuous dosing yielded a statistically significant improvement in post-randomization progression-free survival compared with intermittent dosing.
This recent study examined the association between teacher duty schedule and skin cancer risk for school teachers of 1578 Queensland schools. It found timing of playground duty scheduling is a significant risk factor for keratinocyte skin cancers, and risks are lower in schools where there is more time between the first and second meal break.
According to five-year results from this CheckMate066 trial, there is significant benefit of nivolumab monotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with previously untreated BRAF wild-type advanced melanoma.
This recent study constructed a risk prediction model to determine the likelihood of carrying a heritable CDKN2A germline mutation among Australian families, where the prevalence of these mutations is low. According to the study, the model will help to effectively identify families suitable for genetic counselling and testing in areas of high ambient ultraviolet radiation.
According to this recent study, a melanoma-specific Polygenic Risk Score (PRS) is a significant factor in determining melanoma susceptibility. The findings suggest further exploration is needed to determine the diagnostic value of a PRS in genetically unexplained melanoma families.
PHARMAC are proposing to decline a funding application for ingenol mebutate for solar (actinic) keratosis lesions. They are seeking feedback on this proposal.
This recent study retrospectively examined advanced-stage acral melanoma patients treated with an anti-PD-1 antibody. It found anti-PD-1 antibodies have limited efficacy in Japanese acral melanoma patients and patients with nail apparatus melanoma had poorer response and survival than patients with palm and sole melanoma.
This recent phase 3 trial found the addition of atezolizumab to targeted therapy with vemurafenib and cobimetinib was safe and tolerable and significantly increased progression-free survival in patients with BRAF V600 mutation-positive advanced melanoma.
This recent report provides four year efficacy, initial overall survival, and late-emergent safety results of the CheckMate 238 phase 3 adjuvant trial in patients with resected stage IIIB-C or stage IV melanoma. Results show nivolumab is an efficacious adjuvant treatment for patients with resected high-risk melanoma, with a safety profile that is more tolerable than that of ipilimumab.
This study reviews known and emerging molecular mechanisms that underlay the development of resistance to MAPK inhibition in melanoma cells and discusses potential strategies to overcome these mechanisms. It found resistance to targeted therapy is underpinned by early functional adaptations involving the rewiring of cell states and metabolic pathways and the use of a combinatorial treatment approach would delay the emergence of resistance and improve patient outcomes.