By introducing a particular strain of bacteria into the digestive tracts of mice with melanoma, researchers at the University of Chicago were able to boost the ability of the animal’s immune systems to attack tumor cells. The gains were comparable to treatment with anti-cancer drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-L1 antibodies
Publications
A newly discovered tumor suppressor gene affects melanoma survival
Of the hundreds of genes that can be mutated in a single case of melanoma, only a handful may be true “drivers" of cancer. In research that appeared last week in Nature Genetics, a Weizmann Institute of Science team has now revealed one of the drivers of a particularly deadly subset of melanomas – one that is still seeing a rise in new cases. This gene is a newly identified member of a group of genes called tumor suppressor genes. It is mutated in some 5.4% of melanomas. Furthermore, its expression was found to be lost in over 30% of human melanomas; and this loss, according to the finding, was associated with reduced patient survival. This discovery might open new doors to understanding how this cancer grows and spreads, and it may lead in the future to new directions in treating this disease.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment May Raise Second Non-melanoma Skin Cancer Risk
For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with prior nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), the risk of second NMSC varies with different treatments, according to a study published in JAMA Dermatology.
Adjuvant Ipilimumab in Melanoma Approved by the FDA
Ipilimumab (Yervoy) in melanoma has been approved by the FDA to include adjuvant treatment of patients with stage III melanoma who are at high risk of recurrence following complete resection.