Researchers from the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute have found new markers for melanoma that have the potential to accurately monitor the disease through a routine blood test. Mitchell Stark, who integrates QIMR Berghofer’s Oncogenomics group, noted that these novel biomarkers could be ideally used to monitor tumour progression in those diagnosed with early metastatic disease.
MRV Research
FDA Extends Cobimetinib Review Period in Advanced Melanoma
The FDA has extended the review period for the MEK inhibitor cobimetinib in combination with the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib (Zelboraf) for patients with BRAFV600 mutation-positive advanced melanoma by 3 months, making the new decision date November 11, 2015.
Online searches for melanoma, skin cancer increase in summer
Online searches for the terms melanoma and skin cancer increased during each summer over a 5-year period, according to a recently published report.
Citrus fruit linked with melanoma in preliminary study
Using data from two long-term studies of women and men, researchers found a potential link between citrus consumption and malignant melanoma of the skin.
But the study did not test whether citrus fruits were the cause of the skin cancers, and more work will be needed to confirm the connection, the authors write in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.