Melanoma & Skin Cancer | Specialty

The OncLive Melanoma & Skin Cancer condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and expert insights on various types of skin cancers, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and more. This section features news articles, interviews in written and video format, and podcasts that focus on unmet needs, treatment advances, and ongoing research in melanoma and other skin cancers.

FDA Approves First-Line Nivolumab for Advanced Melanoma

November 24th 2015

Vemurafenib/Cobimetinib Shows 30% OS Benefit in BRAF-Mutant Melanoma

November 22nd 2015

Treatment with the combination of vemurafenib and cobimetinib improved overall survival by 4.9 months compared with vemurafenib alone for patients with BRAF mutation-positive advanced melanoma.

Pembrolizumab/Ipilimumab Combo Effective in Advanced Melanoma

November 22nd 2015

A treatment regimen of pembrolizumab plus low-dose ipilimumab was tolerable and effective for patients with advanced melanoma.

Factors Affecting Dabrafenib/Trametinib Outcomes in Melanoma Identified

November 22nd 2015

In the largest-to-date analysis of treatment-naÃ¯ve metastatic melanoma patients with BRAF V600 mutations treated with dabrafenib and trametinib, researchers have found that baseline LDH levels and number of disease sites were the most significant factors affecting survival.

Novel Pembrolizumab Combos Show Promising Responses in Melanoma

November 21st 2015

Two separate early phase clinical trials exploring pembrolizumab-containing immunotherapy combinations have shown objective response rates over 50% in patients with advanced melanoma.

Understanding BRAF Resistance Critical to Advancing Melanoma Care

November 21st 2015

Making real strides in melanoma care requires an understanding of BRAF resistance mechanisms.

Dr. Georgina Long on Dabrafenib and Trametinib in BRAF-Mutated Melanoma

November 21st 2015

Georgina Long, BSc, PhD, MBBS, FRACP, medical oncologist, translational researcher, Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, discusses which patients may benefit from the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib based on several recent clinical trials.

Dr. Atkinson on When to Use Nivolumab Monotherapy Versus Nivolumab/Ipilimumab Combination

November 21st 2015

Victoria Atkinson, MD, of Princess Alexandra Hospital and Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation, Queensland, discusses long-term data from the phase III CheckMate-066 trial.

James Allison Predicts 'Cures' With Checkpoint Inhibitor Combinations

November 20th 2015

Since the approval of the first checkpoint inhibitor, ipilimumab, several combinations and monotherapies have gained rapid approval, with continued expansion on the horizon.

FDA Grants Dabrafenib/Trametinib Full Approval for BRAF-Mutant Melanoma

November 20th 2015

The FDA has granted a full approval to the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib for patients with unresectable or metastatic BRAF-mutated melanoma.

Dr. Jason Luke on Utilizing the Tumor Microenvironment as a Biomarker for Immunotherapy Response

November 20th 2015

Jason Luke, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses how inflammation in the tumor microenvironment can serve as a biomarker in melanoma.

Nivolumab Survival Benefit Sustained in Long-Term Melanoma Data

November 20th 2015

Long-term data continue to show sustained improvements in overall survival with nivolumab alone or in combination with ipilimumab as a frontline treatment for patients with advanced melanoma.

Novel Agents, T-VEC Combos Mark Next Phase of Oncolytic Immunotherapy Era in Melanoma

November 20th 2015

With the FDA approval of the first oncolytic immunotherapy-talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC; Imlygic)-the stage has been set for increased research into these agents.

Dr. Michael Krauthammer on NF1 Mutations in Melanoma

November 20th 2015

Michael Krauthammer, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, discusses the role of NF1 mutation in melanoma.

QoL Similar With Checkpoint Combo Versus Single-Agents in Melanoma

November 19th 2015

There were few differences in quality of life, global health, and symptom burden between patients with melanoma who were treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab or either agent alone.

Researchers Seek to Improve Responses With Checkpoint Inhibitors

November 19th 2015

Predictive genetic signatures and novel combination strategies may be the key to improving the often dramatic responses seen with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Dr. Sancy Leachman on Helping Patients Identify Melanoma Recurrences

November 19th 2015

Sancy Leachman, MD,PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Dermatology Director, Melanoma Research Program, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, discusses a new tool that oncologists can use with patients to identify melanoma recurrences.

Sheri Holmen on Understanding Drivers of Melanoma Metastasis

November 19th 2015

Sheri Holmen, PhD, investigator, Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, the University of Utah School of Medicine, discusses understanding drivers for melanoma metastasis.

Avelumab Receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Merkel Cell Carcinoma

November 18th 2015

The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to avelumab as a potential treatment for patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma following progression on at least one prior chemotherapy regimen.

FDA Approves New Melanoma Combo, ASH Abstracts Released, Early Ovarian Cancer Data, and More

November 13th 2015