Merkel Cell Carcinoma News and Research

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NCCN Radiation Therapy Compendium adds nine new clinical practice guidelines in oncology

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network continues to build its NCCN Radiation Therapy Compendium with the publication of radiation therapy (RT) recommendations from an additional nine NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology

19 Apr 2017

Immunotherapy drug becomes first FDA-approved treatment for metastatic MCC

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration yesterday granted accelerated approval to the checkpoint inhibitor Bavencio (avelumab) for the treatment of patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), including those who have not received prior chemotherapy.

25 Mar 2017

FDA grants accelerated approval to new drug for treatment of rare form of skin cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today granted accelerated approval to Bavencio (avelumab) for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), including those who have not received prior chemotherapy.

23 Mar 2017

Scientists find novel way for earlier detection of deadly Merkel cell carcinoma

Scientists have found a way to detect earlier if a deadly cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), is recurring in patients, according to a paper to be published 11 a.m. Eastern time, Dec. 7, in the journal Cancer.

7 Dec 2016

Fred Hutchinson opens first-of-its-kind clinic to provide new immunotherapies for cancer patients

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center today announced the official opening of a first-of-its-kind clinic dedicated to providing innovative immunotherapies for cancer patients in clinical trials.

2 Nov 2016

Researchers identify potential therapeutic target against oncogenic viral infection

A benign virus normally found in the skin can lead to a type of rare, lethal skin cancer. Specifically, infection by the Merkel cell polyomavirus can lead to Merkel cell carcinoma in immune-compromised individuals.

1 Jun 2016

Immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab shrinks tumors in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma

In a clinical trial of the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, half of 25 patients with a rare type of virus-linked skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma experienced substantial tumor shrinkage lasting nearly three times as long, on average, than with conventional chemotherapy.

20 Apr 2016

Researchers develop new method to screen tumor samples for presence of human polyomaviruses

Human polyomaviruses are commonly found in the population and generally do not produce noticeable symptoms. However, one type of human polyomavirus, the Merkel cell polyomavirus, is known to cause a rare form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma, and other members of the polyomavirus family can induce non-cancer related diseases in people with compromised immune systems.

27 Feb 2016

UAMS researchers report positive results from treating Metastatic Merkel-cell carcinoma with idelalisib drug

Identifying a patient's genetic mutation led University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) physician-researcher Ling Gao, M.D., Ph.D., to an existing drug that eliminated the patient's stage IV Merkel-cell carcinoma. Gao's findings, made in collaboration with two other UAMS researchers, were published today in The New England Journal of Medicine.

19 Oct 2015

CRI commits $29.3 million in new funds to accelerate development of cancer immunotherapies

The Cancer Research Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fueling the discovery and development of immunotherapies for all forms of cancer, announced that it has committed more than $29.3 million in new funds to accelerate cancer immunology research and cancer immunotherapy clinical development in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Sweden, Switzerland, and The Netherlands.

5 Aug 2015

MD Anderson Cancer Center to host annual Making Cancer History seminar in Sarasota

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center returns March 7 to Sarasota, Fla., for the institution's annual Making Cancer History® seminar at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota, 1000 Blvd. of the Arts.

17 Feb 2015

Progenitor cells responsible for generation and maintenance of Merkel cells

Researchers have identified a population of "progenitor" cells in the skin that are solely responsible for the generation and maintenance of touch-sensing Merkel cells. The study appears in The Journal of Cell Biology.

27 Jan 2015

New immuno-oncology drug helps body's own immune system to fend off cancer

According to an August 25 Reuters report, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is likely to approve Merck & Co.'s highly anticipated immuno-oncology drug, pembrolizumab, as a treatment for melanoma well ahead of a late October deadline.

8 Sep 2014

EMD Serono begins MSB0010718C Phase II study in mMCC patients

EMD Serono, Inc., a subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced the initiation of an international Phase II study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of MSB0010718C, an investigational fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds to programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1).

29 Jul 2014

OncoSec to present update of data from Phase 2 melanoma study at ASCO Annual Meeting

OncoSec Medical Inc., a company developing its ImmunoPulse DNA-based immunotherapy to treat solid tumors, will present an update of data from their Phase 2 melanoma study at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 50th Annual Meeting, taking place May 30-June 3, 2014, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.

22 Apr 2014

OncoSec Medical to re-launch Phase II cutaneous T-cell lymphoma trial under protocol amendment

OncoSec Medical Inc., a company developing its ImmunoPulse DNA-based immunotherapy to treat solid tumors, will re-launch its Phase II cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) trial under a protocol amendment.

7 Apr 2014

UV radiation: A central factor behind Queensland’s record rates of Merkel cell carcinoma

Queensland has at least double the rates of the world’s deadliest skin cancer on record – yet much of the state are unaware the rare cancer even exists.

25 Nov 2013

New class of antidepressants appears potentially effective in combating deadly form of lung cancer

A little-used class of antidepressants appears potentially effective in combating a particularly deadly form of lung cancer, according to a new study from researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

27 Sep 2013

OncoSec Medical signs Sponsored Research Agreement with ODU for melanoma study

OncoSec Medical Inc., a company developing its advanced-stage ImmunoPulse DNA-based immunotherapy and NeoPulse therapy to treat solid tumors, signed a Sponsored Research Agreement with Old Dominion University and the Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics.

11 Jun 2013

Researchers develop multicolor fluorescence labeling method to identify tumor specific miRNAs

In recent years, microRNAs and other non-coding RNAs are small molecules that help control the expression of specific proteins. In recent years they have emerged as disease biomarkers.

27 May 2013