Experimental New Drug May Prolong Life for Melanoma Patients

A newly discovered and experimental gene therapy drug may bring a ray of hope to those patients who are suffering from Melanoma. Although it is too soon to expect miracles from this new drug, it may turn out to be a prospective life saver for many.

Close to 9,000 Americans die from Melanoma each year. Melanoma usually brings with it a life expectancy of nine months or less, once the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Patients who have a mutation in the protein BRAF, a gene many carry that causes the cancer to spread, and were treated with this new drug saw their tumors shrink and the disease slowed it’s progression by nearly 80 percent. It is not to be thought of as a cure but it will give those dying from Melanoma a few more months of precious time with loved ones.

Dr. Antoni Ribas of UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center says of the new drug, “Compared to chemotherapy, it works much better in melanoma and it has less side effects.” Other doctors are sharing in the drugs praise. According to Dr. Lynn Schuchter, a professor of medicine at the Abramson Cancer Center, who participated in the drug trials says, “This therapy results in dramatic responses for patients — it’s phenomenal. I’ve been taking care of patients with advanced melanoma for 25 years and this is one of the most important breakthroughs we’ve seen.”