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10 issues to consider during National Skin Cancer Awareness Month
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Accounting for approximately half of all cancers in the United States, skin cancer is widely recognized as the most common cause of cancer nationwide. More than 3.5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year, and according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, incidences of skin cancer outnumber all combined cases of breast, colon, lung and prostate cancers.
With the month of May designated as National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, HemOnc Today highlights 10 issues for oncologists and dermatologists to consider for their patients, as well as the new guideline revisions and research regarding the identification, treatment and management of patients with melanoma and skin cancer.
Bevacizumab appears tolerable in cutaneous melanoma
1. Bevacizumab demonstrated promising tolerability in patients with cutaneous melanoma, according to data from a preplanned interim analysis of the phase 3 AVAST-M trial. Read more.
2. Melanoma risk increased in men who took sildenafil
Men who took sildenafil demonstrated an increased risk for melanoma. The association was significant among men who reported recent sildenafil use at baseline, although researchers also observed an association among those who reported ever use. Read more.
3. Dabrafenib improved quality of life in patients with metastatic melanoma
Patients with metastatic melanoma treated with dabrafenib demonstrated improved quality of life compared with those who received dacarbazine, according to phase 3 study results. Read more.
4. Living alone increased risk for melanoma death among men
Men with cutaneous malignant melanoma are more likely to die of the disease if they live alone, according to recent findings. Additionally, men who live alone tend to be diagnosed with cutaneous malignant melanoma at a more advanced stage than their cohabiting counterparts, which may in part explain the reduced survival rate in these patients. Read more.
5. Sun exposure, family history guide risk assessment for melanoma screening
Several factors — including sun exposure, family history, use of indoor tanning devices, hair color, skin color, and the presence of both benign and atypical moles — can help better define individuals at high risk for melanoma, according to a presenter at the HemOnc Today Melanoma and Cutaneous Malignancies meeting. Read more.
6. PD-L1 expression predicted response to immunotherapy in melanoma
Patients with advanced melanoma whose tumors expressed programmed death ligand-1 demonstrated improved immune responses and longer PFS after treatment with the investigational immunotherapy MK-3475 than patients whose tumors were PD-L1 negative, according to study results presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. Read more.
7. Standards needed to guide technology’s role in skin imaging
Mobile technologies will continue to play a larger role in melanoma detection due to increased access and ease of use, but a lack of oversight and quality assurance remain formidable challenges, according to a presenter at the HemOnc Today Melanoma and Cutaneous Malignancies meeting. Read more.
8. Vemurafenib extended survival in BRAF V600-positive melanoma
Patients with advanced BRAF V600E- and BRAF V600K-positive melanoma treated with vemurafenib experienced longer OS and PFS than those treated with dacarbazine, according to extended follow-up of the BRIM-3 trial. Read more.
9. Nivolumab induced durable remissions in advanced melanoma
Nivolumab conferred excellent survival outcomes and durable remissions in patients with advanced melanoma. Patients treated with nivolumab also showed sustained response after discontinuation of the drug. Read more.
10. Immunotherapy, BRAF inhibitor sequence affected outcomes in metastatic melanoma
Prior treatment with immunotherapy did not limit response to BRAF inhibitors among patients with metastatic melanoma. However, patients who underwent initial treatment with BRAF inhibitors and subsequently received immunotherapy with ipilimumab demonstrated poorer outcomes.Read more.