Malignant Melanoma Recurrence - How To Avoid It After Targeted Treatment

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) have demonstrated how to prevent new cancers that can occur when malignant melanoma patients are treated with drugs known as BRAF inhibitors.
Professor Marais, who is co-senior author of the study, explains: "Around half of all patients with malignant melanoma have a mutation in their BRAF gene, and can be treated with BRAF-inhibiting drugs. However, between 15 and 30 per cent of the treated patients develop other skin tumors. By determining the mechanism by which these develop, we have been able to devise a strategy to prevent the second tumors without blocking the beneficial effects of the BRAF drugs. This may allow many more patients to benefit from these important drugs."
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