This recent study reports on the 5-year overall survival and the long-term safety profile of vemurafenib plus cobimetinib in the BRIM7 study. It concludes that a subset of patients with advanced BRAFV600-mutated melanoma treated with a combination regimen of vemurafenib and cobimetinib achieve favourable long-term outcomes.
In its latest round of testing Consumer NZ checked 20 sunscreens against two aspects of the voluntary Australian and New Zealand standard for sunscreens: SPF and broad spectrum protection. only eight products met their label claims.
According to this recent study conducted by the University of Queensland, a circulating microRNA panel in the blood can differentiate between uveal melanoma and uveal naevi, while also identifying if the melanoma has metastasised and spread to other areas of the body.
This recent study assessed the reach of the American National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention (NCSCP)’s 2018 Don’t Fry Day Twitter campaign. Generating over 45 million impressions, authors concluded the campaign demonstrated the large potential reach of social media public health campaigns.
This paper describes a randomised controlled trial to compare three-dimensional (3D) total-body photography (TBP) to standard-of-care for people who are at high risk of melanoma. Primary outcomes will evaluate clinical, economic and consumer impact of the intervention.
PHARMAC are amending funding criteria in the Pharmaceutical Schedule for immune checkpoint inhibitors (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) for advanced melanoma. Changes take effect from 1 December 2019.
This recent study indicates that in a well-designed study of a sample representative of the New Zealand population many people still become sunburned despite a high level of sun protection knowledge.
According to this recent study, every Euro spent by the Danish Sun Safety Campaign saved the Danish health budget €2.18 in health expenses.
This study analysed the prevalence of sun protection behaviour and sunburn incidence of residents of Melbourne, Australia across three decades. The study found the likelihood of people using one or more sun protection behaviours on summer weekends was three times higher in the 1990's than before the programme began, that these improvements were sustained into the 2000's and continued to increase in the 2010's. The study demonstrates the definitive impact of a long standing sun protection intervention, with the authors concluding that the findings are consistent with SunSmart having contributed to a reduction in melanoma among younger people.
According to this recent study, patients with rare BRAF mutations can respond to targeted therapy however efficacy seems to be lower compared with V600E mutated melanoma. Combination BRAFi/MEKi seems to be the best regimen for both V600 and non-V600 mutations.