GLG News by Skin Cancer Oncologists (US)

This reports on a small scale pilot study of combination therapy with Avastin and Irinotecan in patients with an aggressive brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, who have already failed standard treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Although comparing only to historical controls, the results...

Genasense is an antisense compound that is pro-apoptotic in cancer cells. A large scale Phase III trial in patients with metastatic melanoma was not considered approvable by the FDA in spring 2004. However, subsequent analysis along pre-specified stratification points (ie LDH level) show striking survival...

This article describes a new partnership between two European based companies for the development of a novel agent, Siramesine, in the treatment of cancer. What makes this interesting is that this is yet another "targeted therapy" for cancer, involving the induction of apoptosis or programmed cell death....

This is an interesting study, and one that is difficult to perform and get good data. My biggest concern is whether or not the presumed association between diet and skin cancer is actually due to other factors that could also be present in these patients. For example, what if people in this area who...

Depending on the accuracy and cost of the technology, this device could be a useful and welcome tool in melanoma diagnosis.  To be considered useful, the Melafind device must increase melanoma recognition without a significant false negative rate.  In other words, the machines ability to catch...

Melanoma and breast cancer were chosen because they are the two cancers that most often have sentinel node biopsy done as part of their treatment. Intraoperative lymphatic mapping, or sentinel node biopsy (interchangeable tems for all practical purposes) identifies lymph node metastases at their earliest,...

Torisel is the first mTor drug approved for any indication that I am aware of. Like Sorafenib and Sunitinib, it blocks a biochemical pathway thought to be critical to malignant cell development and survival. These drug are all slightly different and clinically they are probably not direct competitors....

Melafind is currently undergoing Phase III testing. If these results are positive (and I cannot comment on the trial since I do not know any of the details) then presumably the device will be approved. If practitioners cannot be reimbursed for its use by insurance companies, it will be difficult...

Provenge was shot down by the FDA this month. This active specific immunotherapy for advanced prostate cancer failed to reach any of its primary or secondary endpoints. The survival "benefit" touted in the lay press is likely a statistical anomaly but a large scale study is pending (if the company ...

This article describes a new way of performing liposuction, or cosmetic removal of "extra" fat cells, using a laser device instead of the traditional suction device.