All articles tagged with #melanoma
Two Nature Medicine studies show that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) capsules can both reduce immunotherapy-related toxicity in kidney cancer and improve response rates in lung cancer and melanoma—80% of lung cancer patients and 75% of melanoma patients responded to immunotherapy after FMT (significantly higher than immunotherapy alone) in multicenter Phase II trials using LND101 capsules.
In the phase 2 FMT-LUMINate trial, healthy-donor fecal microbiota transplantation given before first-line anti-PD-1 therapy in NSCLC and anti-PD-1 plus anti-CTLA-4 in melanoma yielded high objective response rates (80% in NSCLC; 75% in melanoma) and was deemed safe overall, with no grade 3+ adverse events in NSCLC. Post-FMT microbiome shifts correlated with responses, including the loss of certain deleterious bacteria (e.g., Enterocloster and Clostridium species). Donor source did not predict efficacy, suggesting that remodeling the gut microbiome—specifically eliminating harmful taxa—drives the benefit. Preclinical mouse data supported this mechanism, showing that reintroducing the lost taxa abrogated the anti-tumor effects of immunotherapy. These findings support FMT as a strategy to overcome resistance to checkpoint inhibitors in NSCLC and melanoma.
Melanoma can occur inside the eye (ocular melanoma), including the uveal and conjunctival subtypes, and is not always tied to sun exposure. Early symptoms are often subtle (blurry vision, irritation, flashes or floaters), with risk factors like lighter eye color and certain eye conditions. Regular comprehensive eye exams are crucial for early detection, as doctors can catch precancerous changes before symptoms arise. Treatments such as laser therapy or plaque brachytherapy can treat tumors, though cures are not guaranteed and outcomes improve with early diagnosis. About 2,000 new ocular melanoma cases are diagnosed annually in the US, with conjunctival melanoma being far rarer.
Moderna and Merck report promising results for a patient-tailored mRNA cancer vaccine paired with Keytruda in high-risk melanoma. The vaccine, designed from a patient’s tumor mutations (neoantigens), reduced recurrence or death by 49% versus immunotherapy alone and demonstrated durable immune memory over five years, signaling a potential breakthrough for personalized cancer vaccines and future skin-cancer prevention.
Moderna shares rose about 10% after Phase 2 data showed its cancer vaccine, when combined with Keytruda, reduced relapse or death risk in melanoma, signaling potential for its oncology pipeline as Covid-era vaccine sales fade and cash stockpiles dwindle. Evercore ISI called the asset a key value driver, while the stock remains rated a Hold by analysts with notable downside risk baked into targets.
In a Phase 2 trial of 157 high‑risk stage 3/4 melanoma patients, Moderna and Merck’s personalized mRNA vaccine (mRNA-4157) plus Keytruda reduced recurrence or death at five years by about 49% versus Keytruda alone. Earlier two- and three-year data showed similar risk reductions (44% and 49%). Safety was similar between groups, with fatigue, injection-site pain, and chills most common. Full data aren’t yet published; a Phase 3 trial is underway and more data from this program are expected.
An experimental, tumor-genome–targeted mRNA therapy developed by Moderna and Merck, when combined with Keytruda, reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or death in an ongoing clinical trial, signaling a potential new precision approach for aggressive skin cancer.
A study shows that tanning beds significantly increase the risk of melanoma and cause more skin mutations, especially in younger users, challenging the myth that tanning beds are safe.
A Tel Aviv University study reveals that melanoma cells release extracellular vesicles that disable immune cells, providing new insights that could lead to improved treatments for skin cancer.
A new study finds that tanning beds cause DNA damage across nearly the entire skin surface, significantly increasing melanoma risk, with users showing almost twice as many mutations as non-users, prompting calls for stricter regulations and warnings.
A recent study shows that tanning beds cause widespread DNA mutations across nearly the entire skin surface, significantly increasing the risk of melanoma, with indoor tanners having nearly three times the risk compared to non-users. The research highlights the dangers of indoor tanning, especially among young people, and calls for stricter regulations similar to those for other carcinogens like tobacco.
A new study shows that tanning beds significantly increase melanoma risk, causing widespread DNA mutations across the skin, even in areas not exposed to sunlight, challenging industry claims of safety and highlighting the need for stricter regulations and public awareness.
Research suggests that gray hair in mice indicates a natural process of eliminating DNA-damaged cells, which may protect against cancer, though carcinogens can hijack this system to promote cell survival and potentially lead to melanoma; similar mechanisms may exist in humans, highlighting a complex relationship between aging, hair graying, and cancer risk.
The study reveals that the lymph node microenvironment promotes resistance to ferroptosis in metastasizing melanoma by downregulating GSH synthesis and upregulating FSP1, which localizes to lysosomes and provides a GPX4-independent protective mechanism. Oxygen levels and epigenetic regulation influence GPX4 stability and ferroptosis sensitivity, suggesting potential therapeutic strategies targeting FSP1 and GSH synthesis in LN metastases.
Emerging research suggests that grey hair may be an outward sign of the body's protective response against cancer, with damaged melanocyte stem cells either undergoing differentiation and disappearing (causing grey hair) or bypassing this process and potentially leading to melanoma, highlighting a complex link between aging, cellular damage, and cancer risk.