Melanoma drug boosts survival

[n2doc]

CHICAGO -- Researchers have scored the first big win against melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, with the development of an experimental drug that significantly improved survival in a major study of people with very advanced disease.

The results, reported Saturday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago, left doctors elated.

"We have not had any therapy that has prolonged survival," said Dr. Lynn Schuchter of the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center, a skin cancer specialist with no ties to the study or drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

The drug, ipilimumab, helps the immune system fight tumors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has pledged a quick review, and doctors think the drug could be available by the end of this year.

more

http://www.freep.com/article/20100606/NEWS07/6060424/

[niceypoo]

1. ipilimumab?

Say that five times fast

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. Say it *once*; I'll be impressed

[xchrom]

3. Awesome - I have really struggled with

Skin cancers and would welcome a remedy like this.

[mopinko]

4. humabs are the next big thing

one that is already being fairly widely used-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etanercept

could be man made miracles

[HuckleB]

5. Duplicate information.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x88109

[LeftishBrit]

6. Encouraging news!