Investigational immunotherapy drug well tolerated in those with rare form of melanoma
An investigational immunotherapy drug being tested in the treatment of a rare form of skin cancer known as Merkel cell carcinoma has been found to be well tolerated with a clinical benefit seen in up to 42 percent of patients who failed prior treatment and were observed for at least six months. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - June 6, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Identifying how merkel cell polyomavirus infection can cause a lethal carcinoma
A benign virus normally found in the skin can lead to a type of rare, lethal skin cancer. Specifically, infection by the Merkel cell polyomavirus can lead to Merkel cell carcinoma in immune-compromised individuals. Researchers have now identified a type of skin cell as the target of the virus in humans and establishes a new way to investigate this type of oncogenic viral infection and identifies a potential therapeutic agent against this infection. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - May 30, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Identifying how Merkel cell polyomavirus infection can cause a lethal carcinoma
(University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine) A benign virus normally found in the skin can lead to a type of rare, lethal skin cancer. Specifically, infection by the Merkel cell polyomavirus can lead to Merkel cell carcinoma in immune-compromised individuals. Researchers have now identified a type of skin cell as the target of the virus in humans and establishes a new way to investigate this type of oncogenic viral infection and identifies a potential therapeutic agent against this infection. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - May 29, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
How to Spot Skin Cancer
By Stacy Simon Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer. If you know what to look for, you can spot warning signs of skin cancer early. Finding it early, when it’s small and has not spread, makes skin cancer much easier to treat. Your doctor can check your skin carefully during a routine cancer-related check-up. Many doctors also recommend that you check your own skin about once a month. Look at your skin in a well-lit room in front of a full-length mirror. Use a hand-held mirror to look at areas that are hard to see. Use the “ABCDE rule” to look for some of the common signs of melanoma, the d...
Source: American Cancer Society :: News and Features - May 4, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Skin Cancer - Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer - Melanoma Prevention/Early Detection Skin Cancer - Merkel Cell Source Type: news
Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) Shows Promise for Advanced Merkel Cell Carcinoma
By Stacy SimonResults of a small clinical trial show that more than half the patients with Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare but aggressive type of skin cancer, improved when they took the immunotherapy drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab). And the improvement appears to be lasting longer than would be expected with standard treatment. This is a significant finding because there are currently no drugs that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat Merkel cell carcinoma. Researchers studying Keytruda and other drugs are trying to provide more treatment options for people with this type of skin cancer.Whi...
Source: American Cancer Society :: News and Features - May 3, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Skin Cancer - Merkel Cell Source Type: news
Merkel cell carcinoma responds to first-line pembrolizumab
The objective response rate wad 56% among 25 patients... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - April 21, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
Keytruda Active in Merkel Cell Cancer (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) -- Durable responses in half of patients with advanced disease (Source: MedPage Today Dermatology)
Source: MedPage Today Dermatology - April 21, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
'Remarkable' Responses in Rare Merkel-Cell Skin Cancer 'Remarkable' Responses in Rare Merkel-Cell Skin Cancer
The first-ever positive clinical trial in the rare Merkel-cell carcinoma shows the highest responses to immunotherapy yet seen, in 56% of patients. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Hematology-Oncology Headlines)
Source: Medscape Hematology-Oncology Headlines - April 20, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Hematology-Oncology News Source Type: news
Drug Promising Against Rare Skin Cancer
Research suggests IV med might benefit patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (Source: WebMD Health)
Source: WebMD Health - April 19, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Drug Shows Promise Against Rare, Aggressive Skin Cancer
Research suggests IV med might benefit patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (Source: The Doctors Lounge - Oncology)
Source: The Doctors Lounge - Oncology - April 19, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: webmaster at doctorslounge.com Tags: Oncology, News, Source Type: news
Drug Shows Promise Against Rare, Aggressive Skin Cancer
Research suggests IV med might benefit patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (Source: U.S. News - Health)
Source: U.S. News - Health - April 19, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Drug Shows Promise Against Rare, Aggressive Skin Cancer
Research suggests IV med might benefit patients with Merkel cell carcinoma
Source: HealthDay
Related MedlinePlus Pages: Medicines, Melanoma, Skin Cancer (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Source: MedlinePlus Health News - April 19, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Merkel cell carcinoma patients who received pembrolizumab often had durable responses
(Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) In a phase 2 clinical trial of the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab as a first-line systemic therapy for advanced Merkel cell carcinoma, or MCC -- a rare, aggressive type of skin cancer -- the clinical response rate was similar to that typically seen with standard chemotherapy, but the duration of the response appeared to be markedly longer. There are currently no therapies that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for this cancer. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - April 19, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Immunotherapy drug shrinks tumors in half of patients with rare, virus-linked skin cancer
(Johns Hopkins Medicine) In a clinical trial of the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, half of 25 patients with a rare type of virus-linked skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma experienced substantial tumor shrinkage lasting nearly three times as long, on average, than with conventional chemotherapy. Several patients had no remaining evidence of disease. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - April 19, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Understanding the role of human polyomaviruses in cancer
A new method to screen tumor samples for the presence of any human polyomavirus has been created by a team of researchers. Their study found no evidence for the involvement of human polyomaviruses in the development of these cancers and helps to resolve questions in the field about whether viruses related to Merkel cell polyomavirus contribute to cancer. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - February 25, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
