Skin Cancer | Topics

John Kirkwood, MD, PhD, gives his opinion on duration of treatment for patients with melanoma.

Dr John Kirkwood explores the idea of taking drug holidays during melanoma treatment and whether it is helpful or harmful.

A retrospective review identified that clinical practice patterns have changed from 2002 to 2020, with the use of immunotherapy increasing as chemotherapy and radiation therapy use has decreased for patients with Merkel cell carcinoma.

Cemiplimab for patients with either metastatic or locally advanced basal cell carcinoma showed antitumor activity in a phase 2 trial.

Pembrolizumab has been granted an expanded indication by the FDA for locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

These data establish pembrolizumab as a promising treatment option for those with locally advanced and recurrent/metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, according to Brett G.M. Hughes, MD.

First-line treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab showed a moderate improvement in overall survival and a manageable safety profile in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma.

The PD-1 inhibitor cemiplimab was granted approval in patients with advanced basal cell carcinoma previously treated with a hedgehog pathway inhibitor or for whom these therapies are not appropriate.

A study published in JAMA Dermatology found changes in diagnostics and awareness may, in part, account for initial increases in incidence rates for Merkel cell carcinoma.

Study investigators indicated that these results call for the need to revise skin cancer health policies to be able to handle the increasing burden of keratinocyte carcinoma management.