Melanoma News and Research

Latest Melanoma News and Research

Provectus Pharmaceuticals publishes article on novel treatment for metastatic melanoma

Provectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a development-stage oncology and dermatology biopharmaceutical company, announces the publication of an article, entitled “A novel treatment for metastatic melanoma with intralesional rose bengal and radiotherapy: a case series," authored by Dr. Matthew C. Foote, Dr. Bryan H. Burmeister, Janine Thomas, and Dr. B. Mark Smithers, in the current issue of the peer-reviewed journal, Melanoma Research (20(1):48-51, February 2010).

10 Feb 2010

Synta Pharmaceuticals' STA-9090 inhibits WT1 protein in AML

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. today announced that preclinical results presented at the “Bridging the Gap 2010” Hematologic Conference, held in Singapore City, Singapore, February 5-7, 2010, shows that STA-9090, a potent inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), inhibits the Wilms’ tumor 1 (WT1) protein, a key transcription factor that drives disease progression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as well as certain other leukemias. STA-9090 is currently enrolling patients in two clinical trials in AML and other hematologic cancers.

9 Feb 2010

Genta commences Phase 2 trial of tesetaxel on first subject

Genta Incorporated announced that the Company has initiated treatment of the first subject in a new Phase 2 trial of tesetaxel in advanced melanoma. Tesetaxel is the Company’s newest clinical-stage small molecule. As a late Phase 2 oncology product, tesetaxel is the leading oral taxane currently in clinical development. The new trial builds on more than ten years of Genta’s experience in melanoma clinical research.

9 Feb 2010

Pfizer, DxS sign agreement to develop a diagnostic test kit for CDX-110 to treat patients with GBM

Pfizer Inc. and DxS (a wholly owned subsidiary of QIAGEN N.V.) today announced that they have entered into an agreement to develop a companion diagnostic test kit for PF-04948568 (CDX-110), an immunotherapy vaccine in development for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

5 Feb 2010

Data analysis of Delcath Systems' Phase III trial of melphalan to be commenced

Delcath Systems, Inc., a medical technology company testing its proprietary treatment system for metastatic cancers to the liver, announced today that sufficient events have been reached to allow data analysis to begin on its Phase III trial. The trial uses the drug melphalan to treat patients with metastatic melanoma in the liver.

4 Feb 2010

Dundee Centre to help set the pace for national and international progress in cancer research

Dundee today (Thursday) becomes Scotland's first link in a unique chain of Cancer Research UK Centres that are being launched across the UK. The launch of the Dundee Centre coincides with World Cancer Day.

4 Feb 2010

BRAF drugs may accelerate tumour growth in cancer patients with faulty RAS gene

A team of UK scientists has made the unexpected discovery that drugs which target a well known fault in a protein called BRAF could actually fuel the progression of cancer in some cases. The findings of this study, which was jointly funded by Cancer Research UK, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the Wellcome Trust are published in Cell.

3 Feb 2010

Study identifies disparities in sun protection behavior

Only about 31 percent of African-American adults engage in at least one form of sun protection behavior such as wearing a hat, while 63 percent never use sunscreen, according to a new study.

3 Feb 2010

RECOTHROM topical hemostat exhibits low rate of anti-product antibody formation

ZymoGenetics, Inc., today announced the publication of pooled safety and immunogenicity observations from eight clinical trials of RECOTHROM in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The authors concluded that RECOTHROM is a well-tolerated topical hemostatic agent in numerous surgical settings and has a low rate of anti-product antibody formation. In the pooled data from all trials, less than one percent of treated patients developed product-specific antibodies. None of the antibodies neutralized native coagulation proteins.

2 Feb 2010

IsoRay ships first set of Cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds to Canada

IsoRay, Inc. announced today that it has successfully shipped the first set of Cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds to a Canadian customer for the purpose of furthering research and development of Cesium-131 in Canada. Cesium-131 is currently approved by Health Canada for the treatment of low-risk prostate cancers and has been cleared by the US FDA for treatment of a wide variety of malignant disease (e.g. prostate, head and neck, brain, breast, lung, eye, etc.).

28 Jan 2010

Indoor tanning: FTC prohibits ITA from making false health and safety claims

The American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) applauds the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for issuing a consent order that prohibits the Indoor Tanning Association (ITA) from making false health and safety claims about indoor tanning. The Academy raised its concerns about the false statements being made by the ITA with the FTC in 2008 after the ITA launched an advertising campaign designed to portray indoor tanning as safe and beneficial.

28 Jan 2010

MedCI forms new strategic alliance with Genta

MedCI LLC, a life-science business consulting services company, announced the formation of a new strategic alliance with Genta Incorporated to secure licensing partners for Genta’s small molecule oncology compound, tesetaxel.

28 Jan 2010

Researchers challenge prevailing belief about role of protein in abnormal cell proliferation

In a study to be published this week, a research team is challenging a prevailing belief about the behavior of a human protein linked to the formation of cancer, possibly breathing new life into the search for therapies that will inhibit that protein from "turning on" genes involved in abnormal cell proliferation.

27 Jan 2010

Prometheus Laboratories executes commercialization agreement with Novartis

Prometheus Laboratories Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical and diagnostic company, today announced the execution of a commercialization agreement with Novartis under which Prometheus acquired exclusive rights to distribute, promote and sell PROLEUKIN® (aldesleukin) in the United States.

27 Jan 2010

Pfizer reports final results from randomized Phase 3 trial of Sutent

Pfizer Inc. today announced final results from a randomized Phase 3 trial of Sutent (sunitinib malate) in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, a type of cancer which originates in the hormone-producing area of the pancreas.

23 Jan 2010

IsoRay expands market awareness program by joining www.StockProfile.com

IsoRay, Inc., announced today that they have expanded their market awareness program by joining www.StockProfile.com, a customized web-based platform showcasing emerging growth stocks.

23 Jan 2010

World’s first Cs-131 implant for colorectal cancer performed at Weill Cornell Medical Center

IsoRay, Inc., announced today that on October 10, 2009, Dr. Bhupesh Parashar, Dr. A Gabriella Wernicke and Dr. KS Clifford Chao from the Department of Radiation Oncology, and Dr. Jeffery Milsom from the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, at Weill Cornell Medical Center performed the world’s first Cesium-131(Cs-131) implant for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

21 Jan 2010

BioNumerik Pharmaceuticals commences patient treatment in Tavocept Phase III trial

BioNumerik Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the treatment of the first patients in a global multi-center Phase III clinical trial of Tavocept (BNP7787) in patients with primary adenocarcinoma of the lung, the most common type of lung cancer. In previous studies, Tavocept demonstrated the potential to substantially increase overall and one year patient survival while concurrently preventing and reducing the incidence and severity of common chemotherapy side-effects as compared to other currently available treatments for advanced lung cancer.

21 Jan 2010

ChromoCure's aneuploidy theory of cancer further validated

ChromoCure, Inc. -- The Company announces that its long-held theory of cancer, aneuploidy, has been further validated by a study published in the January 15, 2010 issue of Cancer Research (Volume 70, Issue 2).

21 Jan 2010

IMUC’s ICT-107 vaccine product candidate targets cancer stem cells

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics today announced the results of a study in which it was shown that certain specific antigens are highly expressed on cancer stem cells (CSCs). This suggests that IMUC’s lead cancer vaccine product candidate ICT-107, which targets those antigens, may effectively target not only the cells that make up the bulk of certain cancerous tumors, but also the CSCs that are widely believed to give rise to them and cause their recurrence.

21 Jan 2010