Researcher
Malignant melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer and, although treatable if caught early, it is still responsible for about 2,070 deaths each year. Now a new study led in the UK by the Royal Marsden Hospital has produced the biggest breakthrough in the treatment of this cancer for 30 years, in the form of a pill.
Advanced malignant melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, and patients have few treatment possibilities. Worryingly, rates of malignant melanoma in Britain have increased faster than any other common cancer over the past 25 years.
The good news is that early results from the phase III clinical study, (BRIM3) show a significant improvement in survival amongst those in the trial who took the new treatment. The drug, currently known only as RG7204/PLX4032, extended overall survival and progression-free survival in participants with advanced malignant melanoma and a BRAF genetic mutation. Put simply, it means that they lived longer, and went for longer without their disease becoming worse. This is compared to patients taking the usual dacarbazine chemotherapy treatment.
The trial results have been so impressive that the BRIM3 study has been changed so that the patients who were in the control group and receiving standard chemotherapy are now being offered treatment with the new drug.
Dr James Larkin, the UK BRIM3 lead researcher from The Royal Marsden, said "This is an incredibly exciting breakthrough. Malignant melanoma is a very difficult disease to treat and with a growing incidence in younger people the results of this Phase III trial are very encouraging."
About half of those with advanced malignant melanoma have the BRAF genetic mutation. This makes cancer cells grow and spread. The new pill treatment targets the mutated BRAF protein and blocks it, which means the tumours shrink. A statement from the Royal Marsden Hospital says that this is the first time that an investigational medicine designed to target a specific genetic abnormality has been shown the extend the lives of patients with advanced melanoma.
Professor Richard Marais, whose work at The Institute of Cancer Research showed how important BRAF is in melanoma, said: "These results represent a paradigm shift in melanoma treatment and will change how we approach the treatment of this disease."
This research is still at the clinical trial stage, and even though the results so far seem very promising, we can’t expect to see the drug widely available just yet. Roche, the company behind the new drug, is working with health authorities around the world, to expand the Early Access Programme (EAP) for RG7204.
Dr Lesley Walker, Director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: "There are very few options for patients with advanced melanoma, so these results are very encouraging. The drug is not yet licensed and is unavailable to patients not on a clinical trial, but we hope that these results will change this situation very rapidly."
Malignant melanoma is now the second most common cancer in people aged 15-34 in the UK. However, figures from Cancer Research UK show that the largest increase in the disease is in the over 60s. From 1975 to 2006, the incidence rates of malignant melanoma in those aged 60 to 79 increased by around 440 percent. Among men in this age group, the figures were even higher, increasing by more than 600 percent in the same period.
The message is, that no matter what your age it is still important to protect your skin and to be aware of any changes. These are the symptoms to watch out for, a mole that is:
- getting bigger
- changing shape
- has an irregular edge
- changing colour
- becoming itchy or painful
- bleeding or crusty
- looks inflamed
If you notice any of these signs don’t wait, see your GP.
First published January 21, 2010
Useful websites
Cancer Research UK - www.cancerresearchuk.org/
CancerHelp UK - http://cancerhelp.org.uk
NHS Choices - www.nhs.uk