First melanoma test identifies those at low risk of cancer spreading

[ack]

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-09-melanoma-cancer.html

ITV Tyne Tees presenter, Pam Royle, is one of the first to try a new test developed by Newcastle University which predicts whether her skin cancer is likely to return.

The test which reliably predicts that a melanoma is unlikely to spread or return has been developed by scientists at Newcastle University.

The pioneering test is expected to be available within 2 years, offering reassurance for patients with melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

Called AMBLor, the prognostic test for the earliest stages of melanoma is able to better identify a patient's true risk of disease progression. It provides all those diagnosed with stage 1 melanoma with more accurate information about the risk of the disease spreading. This is up to 70 percent of new patients.

The team tested 400 archived biopsies from patients who had a stage 1 melanoma diagnosis and showed that the test could predict long term prognosis of the disease and in the future could help clinicians develop personalized treatment plans for patients.

 

[Steve Williams]

That is fabulous news Ack. Better yet we need to find a cure for melanoma. My guess is there will be a biologic which acts against melanoma

melanoma travels quickly and if not caught in time can prove fatal. It crosses the blood brain barrier and also crosses the placenta in pregnancy and can affect the fetus.

everyone should know the ABC’s of melanoma

when in doubt , cut it out

 

[Folsom]

If only cancer were a simple thing... It's very individualized. For example some people have a lot more natural antioxidant activity which helps prevent damage, and hence prevents DNA shifts to cancer. But those individuals tend to metastasize quickly when it does happen. Other people that have more natural levels of superoxide in them may be more likely to have some DNA damage, but the cancer often cannot withstand the stress and is unable to metastasize or last long against a functioning immune system. Things only get more complicated from there. I'm hopeful but with low expectations for much other than cutting it out when we know about it, anytime near future.

 

[ack]

Every battle won is a step forward