Skin Cancer

Neelam Vashi, MD, FAAD, explains the results of her cross-sectional survey investigating melanoma awareness among different racial and ethnic groups.

Recently, PRAME (preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma) immunohistochemical staining has shown its usefulness in distinguishing benign from malignant melanocytic cell populations, offering another color to the canvas in the quest for a more definitive diagnosis of melanoma.

While Mohs micrographic surgery is well established as a safe and effective therapeutic modality in adult patients, it is not as commonly used in pediatric populations. There are unique challenges to performing Mohs surgery on pediatric patients, especially with patient cooperation. Multidisciplinary planning may be needed.

Neelam Vashi, M.D., FAAD, discusses the publication of her cross-sectional survey in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology regarding how different racial and ethnic groups possess various levels of melanoma awareness.

With an estimated 5-year survival rate of 50% and an ongoing issue of resistance, next steps with immunotherapy in melanoma will focus on stratifying patients, personalizing therapy, and refining localized regimens.

Researchers conducted a critical appraisal of a systematic review of six different smartphone apps and found little evidence that they are effective in self-monitoring or skin cancer detection, according to a recent study.

Michelle Nguyen, M.D., MPH, sits down with Dermatology Times to discuss her recent presentation at the 2020 American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) virtual meeting regarding the representation of women dermatologic surgeons in the U.S.

Performing reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) with a mosaic technique before surgery can improve margin mapping in melanoma in situ (MIS), according to a recent study presented at 2020 ASDS Virtual Annual Meeting.

Today's universal improvement in melanoma survival is encouraging. But the reality is racial disparities aren’t going away and in some cases are getting worse.

A new descriptor may help providers to differentiate melanoma from benign lesions, says authors of a recent study.

A recent survey shows that many consumers are confused about sunscreen labeling claims regarding sun protection factor (SPF), allergenicity and other features.

Novartis announces their phase 3 study investigating spartalizumab (PDR001) in combination with dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist) failed to meet its primary endpoint.

Recruiting is ongoing for an investigator-initiated clinical trial of pembrolizumab in clinical stage 2B/C melanoma which will investigate the effects of treatment with pembrolizumab before surgery to remove melanoma on the rate of positive sentinel lymph nodes in patients with stage IIB/C melanoma.

Leveraging artificial intelligence as an assistive tool could open up opportunities for streamlining melanoma diagnosis, expanding practice scope, and enhancing patient care.

The International Skin Imaging Collaboration is an academic and industry partnership designed to facilitate the clinical application of digital skin imaging, with an initial focus on melanoma. The group is developing standards for dermatologic imaging and building a public archive of clinical and dermoscopic images for use in developing artificial intelligence diagnostic algorithms.

Findings from a survey of college students examining beliefs about UV exposure and sunscreen use and their associations with skin cancer risk and UV protective behaviors provide some insights for patient counseling.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved atezolizumab plus cobimetinib and vemurafenib for treatment of BRAF V600 mutation-positive advanced melanoma. Studies show the combination treatment prolonged patients’ lives by 15 months without disease worsening.

Findings of initial studies and call for further testing should not be misconstrued to mean ingredients are unsafe.

A recently published pooled 10-year analysis shows pembrolizumab demonstrates long-term survival benefits for advanced melanoma patients regardless of BRAF V600E/K mutation status or history of BRAFi, with or without MEKi therapy.

In this video, Hema Sundaram, MA, MD, FAAD, highlights important safety considerations to keep in mind regarding laser-assisted drug delivery.

With summer in full swing, this episode takes a look at how social media can influence sun protection use in teens and young adults, and why certain ingredients in sunscreens are considered controversial.

If patients are concerned that sunscreen use may harm their health or the environment, physical sunscreens such as zinc oxide may provide the most reassurance, one expert says.

Patients may be afraid to use a sunscreen considering reports describing the potential for a variety of adverse effects. Physicians should seek a strong understanding of the evidence to discuss benefits and safety with patients and encourage proper sunscreen use.

In cancer immunotherapy, nanoparticles can be directed to different cells and tissues related to the immune response. This technology is currently being investigated to enhance drug delivery in skin cancer therapy with the hope of promoting more robust antitumor effects and improved clinical outcomes.

Gene expression profiling (GEP) has the potential to improve melanoma prognostication, but shortcomings remain, one expert says.