New drugs against skin cancer presented

US researchers present two new skin cancer drugs

07/15/2011

US scientists have presented two new promising treatments for skin cancer. At the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, US researchers presented the latest study results, after the considerable healing success in the treatment of black skin cancer (malignant melanoma) through the combined use of the active ingredients vemurafenib and ipilimumab (marketing name „Yervoy“) could be achieved. However, these studies were paid for by the manufacturing pharmaceutical companies, so that doubts seem appropriate.

The presented studies examine the treatment possibilities of the malignant melanoma by the two newly developed active substances vemurafenib and ipilimumab. The results of the use of the new preparations were marked by significant success, the researchers reported at the annual meeting of the American Association for Clinical Oncology. The particularly aggressive black skin cancer has receded and the life expectancy of patients has increased significantly. Fewer than 10 percent of test subjects would have experienced severe side effects such as diarrhea, joint pain or hair loss when using vemurafenib, the US scientists said.

Regression of tumors and increased life expectancy
In one of the studies presented, volunteers suffering from advanced stage malignant melanoma were treated with vemurafenib, which, according to the US scientists, had relatively rapid positive effects such as tumor regression. The experts referred to a recent study in New York by the Abramson Cancer Center, Pennsylvania. This was considered a test for the efficacy and safety of the new drug vemurafenib. 675 volunteers with non-operative, advanced melanoma and a gene mutation were treated twice daily with vemurafenib tablets. The control group instead underwent chemotherapy with dacarbazine every three weeks during the study. After six months of study, the survival rate of vemurafenib patients was significantly higher than those of subjects who received conventional chemotherapy, according to the New York study. Eighty-four percent of vemurafenib-treated skin cancer patients survived, compared with just 64 percent of chemotherapy patients, according to the experts at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Oncology.

Side effects of new skin cancer drugs
According to Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center expert, Lynn Schuchter, the study's results were particularly gratifying given the proven track record of treatment. Although are „the medication itself is not an absolute remedy. But the combination with other forms of therapy as well as the ongoing development of the new medicines will certainly lead to significant successes“, such a conviction US scientist. The study authors also described the side effects with the use of vemurafenib as relatively manageable, since less than ten percent of study participants after taking serious side effects such as hair loss, rash, joint pain, fatigue or diarrhea suffered. In about 20 percent of skin cancer patients, the study also had less dangerous melanoma developed, the US researchers reported. Because of the side effects, the dosage of the drug in one third of patients had to be changed, study authors further. Overall, the side effects of taking the new drug despite contradictory statements of the US researchers therefore still not foreseeable, so that further studies are urgently needed before the treatment of skin cancer with vemurafenib is extended to a larger number of patients.

New skin cancer drug improves the chances of survival
The second novel agent for the treatment of skin cancer was examined more closely in another US study. The researchers have demonstrated a significant increase in life expectancy by taking ipilimumab in patients with skin cancer. The drug, which has only recently been approved on the US market, is given to skin cancer patients at an early stage, significantly reducing the risk of fatal disease long-term, experts said at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Oncology. The US researchers referred to a recent study in which 502 patients with recently malignant melanoma were either treated with conventional chemotherapy or with chemotherapy plus ipilimumab. Half of the study participants received chemotherapy with dacarbazine, the other half were additionally treated with ipilimumab. After one year of study, 47 percent of ipilimumab patients still lived on conventional chemotherapy compared with 36 percent of study participants. After another three years, the survival rate for ipilimumab patients was 21 percent, compared to 12 percent for chemotherapy patients, the US researchers reported. Thus, a significantly increased life expectancy can be assumed by the administration of ipilimumab, the experts explained.

Side effects of the active substance ipilimumab
The side effects of the new skin cancer drug ipilimumab were similar to those of the active substance vemurafenib. The most common side effects were diarrhea, rash and chronic fatigue. In the study, almost half of ipilimumab patients complained of significant side effects, although the other study participants in the context of chemotherapy were often not spared. Around a quarter of the subjects also suffered from the side effects of the treatment. For ipilimumab to be fully effective, four infusions over a three-month period are needed, according to US researchers, with costs of around $ 30,000 per infusion, well beyond the budget of most health insurers. Therefore, the question remains for whom such treatment would ultimately be affordable. In addition, there is a certain skepticism about the study results presented, as the studies mentioned were commissioned and financed by the manufacturers of the corresponding pharmaceutical products. In addition, several of the researchers also work as consultants for the respective pharmaceutical manufacturers, so the critics do not question the objectivity of the studies for a reason. (Fp)

Read also about skin cancer:
White skin cancer is rapidly increasing
Dangerous black skin cancer
Sunscreen does not protect against skin cancer

Picture credits: Alexandra Bucurescu