Category: Treatment
2021 AACR and ASCO Melanoma Highlights
By Marc Hurlbert, PhD, MRA Chief Executive Officer | 29 June 2021 In News, Science, Treatment
Over the last few months, thousands of scientists and physicians from around the globe gathered virtually for two of the largest cancer research conferences – AACR and ASCO. Melanoma research advances were showcased at both events and it’s an exciting time with numerous presentations of clinical trials for new melanoma treatments. Here we highlight some of the most exciting results from both conferences.
New Immunotherapy Drugs Targeting LAG-3 Show Great Promise
By Kristen Mueller, PhD | 23 June 2021 In News, Science, Treatment
Researchers presented a series of highly encouraging clinical trial results at the recent American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting that suggest that new drugs targeting the protein LAG-3 – developed by BMS and Regeneron – may be an important addition to the current treatment arsenal.
Averting and Treating Immune-related Adverse Events Associated with Checkpoint Immunotherapies
14 June 2021 In Science, Treatment
Checkpoint inhibitors are therapies that empower the immune system to kill cancer cells. However, sometimes immune-related adverse events (irAE) can also occur as a result. To help overcome this challenge, MRA has issued a number of research grants, including some in partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), to support an array of approaches.
Advancing Melanoma Research in Times of Uncertainty
By Cody Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 9 June 2021 In Allies & Partnerships, Melanoma Stories, Policy, Prevention, Science, Treatment
Each year, the annual MRA Scientific Retreat brings hundreds of people from across the melanoma research ecosystem together to exchange ideas, report on scientific progress, celebrate achievements, and mourn the losses. In these ways, the 2021 Retreat was no different.
Separating Hope From Hype in Melanoma Research
By Cody Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 4 June 2021 In Science, Treatment
In the last decade alone 13 therapeutic approaches have earned FDA approval giving patients, families, and clinicians new tools to treat melanoma. But there can be a fine line between hope and hype, especially today when news — both true and inflated — travels instantly via the internet and social media.
Firming the Foundation: Pathology, Rare Melanomas, and Moving the Field Forward
By Cody Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 21 May 2021 In Science, Treatment
When Dr. Priyadharsini Nagarajan talks about her work at MD Anderson Cancer Center, her energy and excitement could light up any room. That’s because Dr. Nagarajan – a pathologist who specializes in skin (called a ‘dermatopathologist’) – sees her work as critical to creating a firm foundation for all subsequent...
Melanoma Research Alliance Announces $8.1 million in Research Awards
By Cody Barnett, MPH, MRA Senior Director of Communications & Patient Engagement | 27 April 2021 In News, Prevention, Science, Treatment
The Melanoma Research Alliance, the largest non-profit funder of melanoma research, is proud to announce $8.1 million in funding for 34 new research awards. The awards, issued on the cusp of Melanoma Awareness Month, provide critical funding to address urgent unmet needs in melanoma.
A New Treatment Approach in the Arsenal: Neoadjuvent Therapy
23 April 2021 In Allies & Partnerships, News, Science, Treatment
Surgery is the backbone of melanoma treatment and is curative for the vast majority of patients with localized melanoma. However, even if surgery successfully removes all detectible traces of tumor tissue, some patients will still experience a melanoma relapse. Can neoadjuvant therapy, an experimental approach, reduce the risk of recurrence?
Against the Odds: Racing for Melanoma Research
19 April 2021 In Allies & Partnerships, Melanoma Stories, Treatment
Patrick O’Neill along with his four closest college friends and fellow Boat Racing, LLC members, find themselves in a very implausible position: first-time horse owners heading to the Kentucky Derby—horseracing’s pinnacle event.
Dr. James Allison on the Path to More Effective Immunotherapies
24 March 2021 In Science, Treatment
When MRA co-founder and Board Chair Debra Black introduced James Allison of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center at MRA’s 2020 Scientific Retreat, she described him as the man “who changed the way cancer patients are treated forever.” This fitting introduction is due to Allison’s pioneering work to mainstream the...