Six recent developments in skin cancer

Research findings that organ transplant recipients are at risk for developing skin cancer after transplantation, with nonwhite recipients showing an elevated incidence, was among recent developments reported on Healio.com/Dermatology.

Other developments included findings that radiologic imaging of high-stage cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma resulted in altered management of the disease and positive disease-related outcomes:

Nonwhite transplant recipients show elevated risk for nonmelanoma skin cancer

Organ transplant recipients are at risk for developing skin cancer after transplantation, with nonwhite recipients showing an elevated incidence, according to study results in JAMA Dermatology.

In a retrospective study, the researchers reviewed the medical records of 413 organ transplant recipients (OTRs), including 264 men and 149 women, with a mean age of approximately 60 years. Read more

Minority, immigrant populations face barriers to skin cancer prevention

Minority, immigrant and uninsured patients indicated barriers to skin cancer prevention including lack of knowledge and the belief that dark skin was protective, according to study results recently published in JAMA Dermatology.

Researchers conducted a 23-question survey in English, Spanish or Haitian Creole of 206 people (mean age, 43 years; 75.7% women) who were uninsured, living at least 200% below the federal poverty level and attending a large free medical clinic in Florida. Read more

Review finds benefits of skin cancer screening, with low evidence level

Studies have indicated the benefits of skin cancer screening, but the quality of evidence is very low, according to a systematic review published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Researchers in Germany conducted a systematic review by searching Medline and Embase for studies published in English or German between Jan. 1, 2005, and Feb. 4, 2015, Read more

BRAF/MEK inhibitor combination extends PFS in melanoma

A phase 3 study designed to evaluate combined BRAF and MEK inhibition in patients with BRAF–mutant advanced, unresectable or metastatic melanoma met its primary endpoint, according to data released by the drugs’ manufacturers.

The combination of encorafenib (LGX818, Array BioPharma), a BRAF inhibitor, and binimetinib (MEK162, Array BioPharma), a MEK inhibitor, significantly extended PFS compared with monotherapy with the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib (Zelboraf, Genentech). Read more

Adjuvant ipilimumab extends survival in stage III melanoma

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Adjuvant therapy with ipilimumab significantly extended survival compared with placebo among patients who underwent complete resection for stage III melanoma at high risk for relapse, according to phase 3 study results presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress.

However, more than 40% of patients treated with ipilimumab (Yervoy, Bristol-Myers Squibb) experienced grade 3 or grade 4 immune-related adverse events. Read more

Radiologic imaging had positive impact on cutaneous SCC management

Radiologic imaging of high-stage cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma resulted in altered management of the disease and positive disease-related outcomes, according to recently published study results.

Researchers reviewed tumors classified as Brigham and Women’s Hospital tumor stage T2B or T3 for patients with diagnosed with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) between Jan. 1, 2000, and May 30, 2013 to determine if radiologic imaging was used and if imaging results affected treatment. Read more