South Africa experiences one of the highest rates of skin cancer globally, with 20 000 new skin cancer cases and 700 related deaths annually, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation of South Africa. Melanoma skin cancer is one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers and while it accounts for only 1% of skin cancers it is responsible for 80% of skin cancer deaths. Furthermore, it accounts for only 1.7% of all cancers diagnosed, but 20% of overall global deaths from cancer.
Health Professionals
Study Highlights Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy as a Viable First-Line Treatment for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
Study author Erin McClure, MD, discusses how IGSRT offers consistent NMSC recurrence rates across socioeconomic and comorbidity factors, reinforcing its role as a first-line treatment.
Scientists discover new weapon to fight treatment-resistant melanoma
The lab of The Wistar Institute’s Jessie Villanueva, Ph.D., has identified a new strategy for attacking treatment-resistant melanoma: inhibiting the gene S6K2. The team published their findings in the paper, “Selective abrogation of S6K2 identifies lipid homeostasis as a survival vulnerability in MAPKi-resistant NRASMUT melanoma," from the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Nivolumab Plus Relatlimab Shows Sustained PFS Benefit in Advanced Melanoma
Nivolumab (Opdivo) plus relatlimab (Opdualag) significantly improves progression-free survival (PFS) in advanced melanoma compared with anti–PD-1 monotherapy alone, according to three-year descriptive results of the RELATIVITY-047 trial that confirm the combination’s sustained benefit.