Category: Treatment
MRA Celebrates Approval of Tebentafusp - First Drug for Metastatic Uveal Melanoma
By Cody Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 26 January 2022 In News, Treatment
The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA), the largest non-profit funder of melanoma research worldwide, applauds the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision to approve the first-ever therapy for metastatic or unresectable uveal melanoma.
Registration Now Open for March 9 Patient Forum!
11 January 2022 In Allies & Partnerships, Events, News, Policy, Prevention, Science, Treatment
MRA’s Melanoma Exchange Patient Forum, held in-person in Washington DC and virtually on March 9, will bring together melanoma patients, survivors, advocates, and their loved ones to provide lay-friendly, state-of-the-science education, promote collaboration, and provide networking opportunities across the melanoma community.
Championing Clinical Trials
By Cody Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 2 January 2022 In Melanoma Stories, Science, Treatment
Too often, the first time someone is exposed to clinical trials is when they've been diagnosed with a serious, life threatening illness. Learn how Mary Elizabeth partnered with her doctor Jedd Wolchok to take back control from melanoma.
MRA Applauds Expanded Approval of Pembrolizumab to Patients with Stage 2 Melanoma
By Cody Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 6 December 2021 In News, Science, Treatment
The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA), the largest non-profit funder of melanoma research worldwide, welcomes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision to expand eligibility of Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) to include patients with Stage IIB and IIC melanoma.
Promising Uveal Melanoma Research Advances
By Cody Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 26 October 2021 In News, Science, Treatment
Uveal melanoma, often called ocular melanoma or just eye melanoma, is a rare melanoma subtype that affects about 2,500 people each year in the United States. As is true with other rare subtypes, we know far less about what causes uveal melanoma, how it progresses, and how it can be...
Challenge Accepted: MRA 2020 - 2021 Annual Report
19 October 2021 In Allies & Partnerships, Melanoma Stories, News, Policy, Prevention, Science, Treatment
This was a year like no other. COVID-19 presented new challenges that required new ways of thinking. At MRA, confronting challenges is part of our DNA. We never stop challenging ourselves, no matter the odds or obstacles, in pursuit of conquering melanoma and saving lives.
The Next Frontier of Combination Immunotherapy: Maximizing the Benefits & Reducing Harms
15 September 2021 In Science, Treatment
Every general knows that the best way to successfully win a war is to deploy multiple weapons with different targets. This strategy was first used in cancer to conquer childhood leukemias with combination chemotherapy and now is being put to the test in melanoma by combining multiple checkpoint inhibitors, as...
Practical Recommendations for Surviving and Thriving Despite Melanoma
4 August 2021 In Treatment
Most experts, including the National Cancer Institute, say that a person becomes a survivor from the moment they learn of their cancer diagnosis – for the rest of their life. Get practical tips and strategies to live well with melanoma based on an expert panel conversation, led by Dr. Sapna Patel of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Full Sails Ahead: Immunotherapy Shows Continued Survival Benefit for Patients Facing Advanced Melanoma
By Cody Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 28 July 2021 In News, Science, Treatment
After carefully following patients enrolled in Checkmate 067 over the last 6.5 years, he and the research team determined that 49% of patients treated with Opdivo + Yervoy were alive at 6.5 years and 77% of these patients remained treatment-free. This represents the longest reported median overall survival in a phase 3 melanoma clinical trial – ever.
Biomarkers: What They Are, Why They Matter, and Where They are Going
22 July 2021 In Allies & Partnerships, Science, Treatment
The melanoma treatment field has been rewarded recently with an abundance of riches. But all these exciting new treatment options for patients can also create complexity and confusion. Fortunately, help is on the way in the form of biomarkers — molecular or cellular indicators for whether a patient is likely to respond or is currently responding to their therapy, or whether they are likely to have a recurrence of their cancer.