Skin Cancer Detection and Treatment
2010
Spectral Molecular Imaging Accelerates Timeline for SkinSpect Early Melanoma Detection
Cascade Technologies announced that its subsidiary Spectral Molecular Imaging (SMI) will complete development of its new product SkinSpect, aimed at early detection of melanoma which will betested at the University of Pittsburgh
September 2, 2010
Skin Cancer Recurance May Be Preventable
While surgical and medical oncologists do not think twice about combining treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, in the treatment of cancer patients, dermatologists rarely use adjuvant therapies once they have excised skin cancers, according to one dermatologist.
September 1, 2010
Plant agents prevents skin cancer, studies show
Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center of San Antonio discovered that the combination of certain plant substances can prevent cell damage caused by skin cancer.
September 1, 2010
"Co-conspirator' cells may hold key to skin cancer prevention
A new research has identified cancer cells called 'co-conspirator' in the genesis of melanoma - a finding that could be the key to predicting and preventing skin cancer.
August 31, 2010
Millions Skipping Life-Saving Cancer Treatments Over Cost
Milions of cancer patients are skipping treatment because of cost, putting long-term health and well being at risk.
June 19, 2010
Elective Lymph Node Dissection in Patients with Melanoma
Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Dr. J. A. Newton-Bishop et al. conclude that there is "no significant overall survival benefit for patients undergoing elective lymph node dissection. Trials included in this review, however, contain significant bias. The question is not answered for all patients, and the results do not exclude the possibility that some subgroups may benefit from elective lymph node dissection."
March 15, 2010
Read More
Treating Melanoma in the Elderly a Significant Economic Burden
"In the United States, the cost of treating melanoma in patients aged 65 years or older was about $249 million annually." If treated at earlier disease stage, "annual direct costs to patients could be cut by 40% to 65% of the current value, or between $99 million and $161 million."
March 17, 2010
AAD [American Academy of Dermatology] Annual Meeting: Advances Improve Detection of Early Melanoma
Dr. H. S. Rabinovitz of Univ. of Miami "discussed diagnostic tools such as dermoscopy, full-body photography, mole mapping, and reflectance confocal microscopy, and evolving technologies such as the computerized image analysis system..."
March 5, 2010
Radiographic Staging in Advanced Melanoma Should Be Limited to Selected Patients: Presented at SSO [Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Cancer Symposium]
Hope is that radiographic staging of stage 3 melanoma patients will identify hidden metastasis and "avoid morbidity associated with radical lymph node dissection..." But imaging now detects small lesions with "uncertain clinical significance;" too many false positives. Researchers then identify those classes of patients who should receive complete radiographic staging.
March 8, 2010
Read More
Adjuvant Alfa Interferon Modestly Effective in High-risk Melanoma
"Researchers from Italy have concluded, on the basis of a systematic review and meta-analysis, that adjuvant alpha interferon significantly improves disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with high-risk melanoma."
March 5, 2010
Read More
What Is Lymphedema? What Causes Lymphedema?
Dissertation on lymphedema and functions of lymphatic system. Patients treated for cancers such as skin cancers are at risk. "Patients who undergo cancer treatment are commonly [in UK] offered lymphedema assessment as part of their after-care treatment program."
March 2, 2010
Popular Mnemonic [ABCD] Should Reflect Darkness, not Diameter, of Skin Lesions
"Diameter criterion discourages patients from looking for earliest lesions, proponents say. Opponents to change argue lack of diameter criterion would result in too many biopsies, higher costs.... Currently, there is a grassroots move in dermatology to change the ‘D' criterion from ‘diameter' to ‘dark.'"
March 2, 2010
With Skin Cancers, Self-Exam Stressed
The recent controversies on medical screenings and some history of skin cancer screening recommendations. "The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a monthly head-to-toe self-examination and a yearly skin exam with a physician. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that people ‘check their birthday suit on their birthday' and see a dermatologist if they notice anything changing, growing or bleeding on their skin. To assist with self-examinations, the academy offers a downloadable body mole map to help track moles...."
February 2, 2010
2009
Ultrasound with Elastography May Cut Down on Biopsies
"When used with ultrasound, elastography helps distinguish between cancerous and benign breast lesions, which reduces unnecessary biopsies." Dr. Siegel said that "dermatologists tend to biopsy any lesions that seem visually suspicious for disease. Consequently ... many benign lesions are needlessly biopsied in order to avoid the risk of missing a potentially deadly melanoma.'"
December 1, 2009
Read More
Melanoma Staging and Classification System Revised
Revisions to the American Joint Committee on Cancer Melanoma Staging Database. "The researchers identified the dominant prognostic factors for localized melanoma and replaced level of invasion with mitotic rate as a primary criterion for defining T1b melanomas. They also defined criteria for the N category in patients with regional metastases, the M category in patients with distant metastases, and classified all patients with microscopic nodal metastases, regardless of extent of tumor burden, as stage III."
November 24, 2009
Genes from Same 'Family' Interact with Each Other to Prevent Skin Cancer, says New Study
The Cancer Research UK study on BRAF.
November 22, 2009
Predicting Who Will Survive Skin Cancer
"Some patients with advanced melanoma survive for years after their cancer has spread, while others die quickly. Experts have never been able to predict who among those with this often fatal skin cancer will live longer than others. But this may be about to change." Dr. N. Bhardwaj's study could improve therapy especially at different levels of stage 3 melanoma.
November 19, 2009
Adjuvant Radiotherapy Improves Local Control in High-risk Melanoma Patients
"Researchers affiliated with the Intergroup Randomized Trial ... have reported that adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) improves regional control for patients with high-risk melanoma without a statistically significant effect on survival."
November 12, 2009
Israeli Invention Allows for Early Detection of Cancerous Skin Tumors
The instrument from Ben-Gurion Univ. "allows cancerous tumors on the skin to be detected and examined before they become visible to the naked eye.... The newly developed instrument, known as OSPI, uses safe levels of radiation, projected at the tumor and returned to the gadget, which measures its character, including its contours and spread."
November 17, 2009
Top 10 Things to Tell Your Dermatologist
For a thorough exam, "please consider telling him or her the following 10 things during your visit," such as whether family members have received melanoma diagnoses; your history of sun exposure and use of protection; changes in moles; medications.
November 9, 2009
More Doctors Need to Learn to Spot Skin Cancers
"'Primary-care physicians are thus ideally suited to screen and triage high-risk patients...' the study authors wrote.... ‘If current physicians in training do not learn this skill set in medical school or residency, there is a low likelihood that they will acquire this knowledge in their day-to-day practice, which could have potentially devastating consequences for melanoma recognition going forward.'"
October 19, 2009
CARR: Fastest Growing Cancer in the US, 10-18-09
"Skin cancer when caught early is easily dealt with by removal of the tissue. But, unfortunately, it is the fastest growing cancer in America that is without any real protocols for chemotherapy or radiation. In other words, catch it early or else. It is the disease that felled Maureen Reagan...."
October 17, 2009
Ultrasound Can Predict Tumor Burden and Survival in Melanoma Patients
"We have identified two ultrasound patterns of lymph node metastasis in melanoma patients which can identify correctly any amount of tumor cells in the sentinel lymph nodes in 75-90% of cases before proceeding to surgery on the sentinel lymph nodes." Dr. Voit of Charite Hospital in Berlin.
September 23, 2009
Self-Exams Can Help Detect Potentially Deadly Melanoma
"The harmful ultraviolet rays that are the leading cause of skin cancer are a year-round hazard..." Mentions Jim Johnson. "Metastatic melanoma, the advanced stage of the disease that killed Johnson, spreads through the lymph system to surrounding skin and the lymph nodes, or through thebloodstream to organs or the bones."
September 1, 2009
Taking Aim at Skin Cancer
"If approved by the FDA, the handheld MelaFind device made by Electro-Optical Sciences will revolutionize the way patients are screened for skin cancer."
August 22, 2009
Novel Therapeutics for Melanoma
"Advanced melanoma has the highest per-death loss of years of potential life expectancy except for adult leukemia.... While many of these [novel] compounds are being tested in clinical trials, there are more agents in various stages of preclinical development." Review of most promising novel agents for advanced melanoma includes agents targeting the MAPK and mTOR pathways, agents targeting the immune system, and other targeted drugs such as PARP Inhibitors. (This article may sound like last week's article on metastatic melanoma therapies but it has different authors.)
July 27, 2009
Read More
New Paper Confirms Critical Link of LDH Biomarker in Genasense Trials
"The biomarker, a tumor-derived enzyme known as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), is measured by a widely available blood test. Genta's recently completed Phase 3 trial of Genasense in advanced melanoma, known as AGENDA, specified low-normal LDH as an enrollment criterion increasingly elevated levels of LDH."
July 21, 2009
Novel Therapeutics for the Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma
"Metastatic malignant melanoma is an incurable disease with a median survival of 8.5 months and a probability of surviving 5 years after the diagnosis of less than 5%. To date, no systemic therapy has meaningfully changed these survival end points." Through discussion of innovative strategies such as immune therapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and angiogenesis inhibitors, cancer vaccines, and "biochemotherapy." "Other than the current US FDA-approved agents, clinical trials will remain the focus of treatment for metastatic melanoma."
July 17, 2009
Media Coverage Generates 47% Increase In Melanoma Diagnoses
"Media coverage of skin cancer advice and sun awareness campaigns [by the UK government and private charities, especially in 2008] may have generated a 47 percent increase in diagnoses of melanoma in just one year, according to research due to be released at the British Association of Dermatologists' Annual Conference next week." Success in promoting earlier diagnoses of melanoma.
July 7, 2009
Abnormal Tests Lead to Huge Hassles. Second Question on Skin Cancer Biopsy Results
Excellent advice from physician (1) on how to deal with ambiguous or inconclusive tests when confronted by insurer, (2) need to heed pathologist's report on biopsy.
June 29, 2009
Melanoma: Treatment Options
Discusses surgery; chemotherapy (approved drug DTIC); experimental anti-angiogenesis drugs; varieties of still experimental immunotherapy (1. activating immune system to attack tumor, 2. biologic therapy using agents in body such as interferon alpha, tumor necrosis factor, and 3. lymphokines such as interleukin 2); and gene therapy.
June 19, 2009
EORTC: Interferon Alfa-2b Improved RFS, Decreased QOL in Stage III Melanoma
"Adjuvant therapy with pegylated interferon alfa-2b improved recurrence-free survival among patients with resected stage III melanoma.... However, the researchers also observed a negative effect on global health-related quality of life...."
May 20, 2009
Dermoscopy as a Technique for the Early Identification of Foot Melanoma
"Malignant melanoma is the most common primary malignant tumor arising on the foot." Dermoscopy is "a useful and significant adjunct to clinical examination, which ultimately may lead to earlier recognition of this aggressive tumor."
May 12, 2009
Concern over GPs' Biopsy of Skin Cancers
Researchers at the Canberra Melanoma Unit reported at the conference of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons that "57% of skin biopsies by GP were in line with best practice guidelines." But a number reflected poor techniques that could miss melanomas.
May 8, 2009
Melanoma and Pregnancy: What Every Woman Needs To Know About the Risks, Prognosis
Dr. M. S. Driscoll: "... the most important factor to consider is a woman's prognosis, which is based upon her stage of the disease ....tumor thickness, presence or absence of ulceration, and whether the melanoma has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs." Can treat melanoma during pregnancy.
May 4, 2009
Detect Skin Cancer Early With Free Screenings
"Physicians from the American Academy of Dermatology are offering free skin exams in May. " Find places.
May 1, 2009
ABCs of Mole Removal
If half of all melanomas arise in moles, "why not remove all moles?" Discusses why not practical.
February 10, 2009
2008
When Should Moles Be Removed?
Article discusses the paradox of why whole-scale removal of ordinary and even atypical moles may not be a good idea.
October 30, 2008
Read More
Leading Dermatology Clinic Chooses IntraOp’s Mobetron to Provide
Non-Surgical Radiation Therapy to Skin Cancer Patients. Will use “the Mobetron to Administer Electron-Beam Radiation to Patients, Reducing the Need for Many Surgeries.” Mobetron is portable.
November 3, 2008
Read More
Improving Cancer Diagnosis Skills
In NZ, about 100 general practitioners learn about and try out how to use dermascope technology to improve melanoma diagnosis.
November 4, 2008
Read More
TMZ, Thalidomide and Whole Brain Radiation Ineffective for CNS [Central Nervous System] Metastatic Melanoma
A phase-2 study of 39 patients with CNS metastases.
October 31, 2008
Read More
The "Ugly Duckling" Sign: Agreement Between Observers
Drs. Dusza and Halpern “assess whether multiple observers can identify the same pigmented lesion(s) as being different from a patient's other moles ("ugly duckling" [UD] sign) and to explore whether the UD sign is sensitive for melanoma detection.” Among results, found that “all 5 melanomas (100%) and only 3 of 140 benign lesions (2.1%) were generally apparent as different.”
September-October 2008
Read More
Completion Lymph Node Dissection Might Be Avoided After Detecting a Single Sentinel Node Micrometastasis in Cutaneous Melanoma: Presented at ESSO
September 15, 2008
Read More
SPECT/CT May Be Better Than Lymphoscintigraphy at Detecting Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Breast Cancer: Presented at ESSO [European Society of Surgical Oncology
Conventional imaging does not identify as many nodes that have tumors as does the “single-photon-emission computed tomography camera with integrated computed tomography (SPECT/CT).”
September 15, 2008
Read More
Isolated Limb Infusion a Safe and Effective Way to Deliver Chemotherapy in Elderly Patients With Advanced Metastatic Melanoma of the Limb: Presented at ESSO
September 15, 2008
Read More
Skin Cancer Treatment on the Spot
“A new clinic to identify and remove skin cancer” was opened at a UK hospital, in response to an "inefficient" public system which required 2 separate waiting lists starting at general practitioner level.
September 14, 2008
Read More
Acral Lentiginous Melanoma of the Foot and Ankle - A Case Series and Review of the Literature
“33% of patients were initially diagnosed incorrectly.”
September 15, 2008
Read More
Important links