Posted on 05/27/2022 10:00:26 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Tumors from desmoplastic melanoma, a rare cancer most commonly found on the head or neck, can often be shrunk significantly before surgery by an immunotherapy known as PD-1 blockade, a result that may reduce the need for disfiguring surgery and radiation.
"This study suggests that up-front treatment may spare some from disfiguring surgeries," said Dr. Kendra.
Desmoplastic melanoma is a rare form of malignant skin cancer that occurs on sun-exposed areas of the body. It's a cancer in which local relapse is common, so the standard of care is surgery with wide excision margins followed by radiation therapy. These wide margins and the fact that the cancer is most commonly found on the head and neck mean treatment often leaves patients with large, disfiguring scars.
Earlier research found that desmoplastic melanoma that had spread, or metastasized, often responded to a type of immunotherapy known as PD-1 blockade therapy. Dr. Kendra's team hypothesized that treatment with this type of immunotherapy before surgery could shrink these tumors.
To test this hypothesis, trial researchers enrolled patients with desmoplastic melanoma that was considered to be operable. A total of 29 patients were treated with 200 mg of the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab every three weeks. Patients received an average of three cycles of this treatment before undergoing surgery to remove their tumors.
More than one-half of the patients who were eligible to proceed with surgery (16 of 29, or 55 percent) showed a pathologic complete response to the immunotherapy, meaning that tissue samples removed during surgery showed no signs of cancer. Patients tolerated the immunotherapy well, with therapy-related adverse events (side effects) being infrequent and of a low grade. Response rates (including complete response, partial response, and stable disease) at nine weeks of treatment were 92 percent, suggesting a high potential for further benefit.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Jimmy Carter is still alive.
” . . . stable disease) at nine weeks of treatment were 92 percent, suggesting a high potential for further benefit.”.
Hmm. 92%. Yes indeed, highly suggestive of further benefit.
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I started getting this treatment in July 2020 after surgery and radiation in February had not caused the Merkel Cell Carcinoma to stop spreading throughout my lower body. Surgery on my neck and shoulder was not too noticeable however removal of the lymph nodes caused severe loss of feeling. On December 23 2020, the Oncologist met with me grinning from ear to ear. “It’s gone” he said. I will probably continue with Pembrolizumab aka Keytruda for another year or two. Initially they gave me two years but now who knows? I’m only 80!
Congratulations!
ONLY??
Why yer just a wet-behind-the-ears whippersnapper!
Praise the Lord for the good news!!
This is Keytruda. My husband is a 3 year LC survivor. Currently on this drug since January. Last scan was stable. Immunotherapy truly is a wonder drug if your PDL1 levels are high enough.
Good news! Hopefully our next generation will be asking the question. What’s Cancer?
This old geezer thanks “Kid from Indiana” for comforting words. I must say though there is nothing better than an old goat!
I’ve only one left, big Ol’ Casper.
He doesn’t walk very well anymore but I’ll keep him around as long as I can.
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