Recent developments in skin cancer

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force statement concluding that there is not sufficient evidence to recommend visual skin examination by a clinician in screening for skin cancer in asymptomatic adults, was among recent developments reported on Healio.com/Dermatology.

Recent research included findings that incidence of melanoma in situ increased at a faster rate than invasive melanoma:

USPSTF finds insufficient evidence in favor of screening for skin cancer

There is not sufficient evidence to recommend visual skin examination by a clinician in screening for skin cancer in asymptomatic adults, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded after a systematic review of available clinical trials.

Despite the lack of evidence, researchers stressed the need for skin cancer prevention and high-quality clinical trials to provide more information on screening. Read more

AAD, ASDS express disappointment on USPSTF skin cancer screening statement

The American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery have expressed disappointment with the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force’s determination that there is not enough evidence to make a recommendation on asymptomatic adults receiving skin cancer screenings from a physician.

“The American Academy of Dermatology is disappointed with this recommendation, as dermatologists know that skin cancer screenings can save lives, yet we acknowledge the need for additional research on the benefits and harms of skin cancer screening in the primary care setting,” Abel Torres, MD, JD, FAAD, president of the AAD, stated in a press release. Read more

Melanoma in situ incidences increase at faster rate than invasive melanoma

Incidence of melanoma in situ increased at a faster rate than invasive melanoma, with the two melanomas displaying epidemiological and clinical differences, according to recently published study results.

Researchers used the Nurses’ Health Study, an ongoing prospective of cohort of 121,700 female registered nurses (1976-2010), and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, which includes 51,529 men (aged 40 to 75 years) in the health care profession to prospectively collect incident cases of melanoma (1986-2010). Read more

Melanoma screening increases detection with little impact on use of surgery, specialist referrals

Melanoma screening in the community medical setting increased melanoma diagnoses rates, but did not result in an upsurge of skin surgeries or dermatology office visits, according to study results published in Cancer.

“There has been some evidence supporting the potential efficacy of skin cancer screening in reducing mortality, but there has been a scarcity of evidence about the potential downstream harms of screening,” Martin A. Weinstock, MD, PhD, professor of dermatology and community health at Brown University, stated. Read more

Local peripheral therapies improve efficacy of ipilimumab for melanoma

The addition of ipilimumab to local peripheral treatments significantly extended OS in patients with melanoma, according to the results of a retrospective clinical study.

The combination treatment approach did not significantly raise immune-related adverse event rates, results showed. Read more