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New Research Warns Tattoos May Increase Cancer Risk as Ink Migrates to Lymph Nodes

The AHA! Team — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 05:03:06 +0000

Cassie B. via Natural News – New research links tattoos to a higher risk of cancer, as ink migrates to lymph nodes, potentially causing chronic inflammation and abnormal cell growth. Swedish and Danish studies found tattooed individuals had increased lymphoma and skin cancer risks, with early tattoos and large designs showing the strongest associations. Black and colored inks contain harmful chemicals, including carcinogens and toxic metals, with red ink posing additional risks when exposed to sunlight or laser removal. Laser tattoo removal may worsen the danger by breaking down ink into more toxic byproducts, tripling lymphoma risk in some cases. Experts urge vigilance for skin changes in tattooed areas and call for stricter ink regulations while emphasizing healthy lifestyle choices to mitigate risks. Self-expression through body art In an era where self-expression through body art has become mainstream, shocking new research suggests that tattoos may carry a hidden danger: a significantly increased risk of cancer. Recent studies from Sweden and Denmark reveal that tattoo ink doesn’t just stay in the skin; it migrates through the body, accumulating in lymph nodes and potentially triggering chronic inflammation that could lead to lymphoma and skin cancer. With millions of inked individuals worldwide, these findings raise urgent questions about the long-term safety of what many consider harmless self-expression. The science behind the risk When tattoo needles deposit ink into the dermis—the skin’s deeper layer—the body’s immune system perceives the foreign particles as a threat. According to Christel Nielsen, lead author of a 2024 Swedish study, “a significant portion of the injected ink is transported away from the skin by the immune system.” This process sends pigment particles to lymph nodes, where they may linger for years, disrupting immune function and potentially fueling abnormal cell growth. The Swedish study found that 21% of malignant lymphoma patients had tattoos, compared to just 17% of controls. Most alarmingly, those who got their first tattoo within two years of diagnosis faced an 81% higher lymphoma risk. Meanwhile, Danish researchers analyzing twin data discovered that individuals with large tattoos (bigger than palm-sized) had nearly three times the risk of lymphoma and 2.37 times the risk of skin cancer. Size and color matter While the Swedish study found no clear link between tattoo size and cancer risk, Danish researchers observed a dose-response relationship. “The bigger the tattoo and the longer it has been there, the more ink accumulates in the lymph nodes,” explained Signe Bedsted Clemmensen, assistant professor at the University of Southern Denmark. Black ink, often containing carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was particularly concerning, with black or grey tattoos associated with a 23-32% higher lymphoma risk. Colored inks pose their own dangers, as they may contain toxic metals like arsenic, lead, and chromium. Red ink, notorious for allergic reactions, can release harmful compounds when exposed to sunlight or laser removal. “Current regulations on tattoo ink ingredients are not sufficient,” warned dermatologist Dr. Trisha Khanna. Laser removal may worsen the problem For those considering tattoo removal, the risks might not end there. The Swedish study found that laser-treated tattoos were associated with triple the lymphoma risk. Laser breakdown of ink chemicals, particularly azo compounds, can release even more toxic byproducts into the body. How to protect yourself For already-tattooed individuals, experts emphasize vigilance. Persistent redness, itching, or unusual skin changes within inked areas should prompt immediate dermatological evaluation. “The best thing we can do for our health, tattoos or not, is to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” Nielsen advised, endorsing plant-rich diets linked to lower cancer rates. As tattoo culture thrives, these studies underscore the need for greater transparency about ink ingredients and long-term health impacts. While personal choice remains paramount, informed consent requires acknowledging emerging risks—something the body art industry and regulators can no longer ignore. For now, people considering getting a tattoo need to know that permanent ink may come with permanent consequences. As researchers continue investigating, consumers deserve full disclosure about what’s really under their skin. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com StudyFinds.org SciTechDaily.com New.Sky.com To read the original article, click here

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Early Detection of Melanoma

The AHA! Team — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 05:23:11 +0000

Georgia M. Beasley, MD, MHSc, via Duke Health – Melanoma can be cured if detected early. Here, Georgia M. Beasley, MD, MHSc, a surgical oncologist at Duke Health, talks about what to look for and how to know if you are at high risk. How to Detect Melanoma Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, responsible for the majority of all skin cancer deaths. Close to 100,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed this year. Fortunately, these cancers are usually curable if detected early. According to Dr. Beasley, patients diagnosed in the earliest stage of melanoma have over a 90% survival rate at five years, while those diagnosed at the most advanced stage have a 20 to 30% survival rate. Early detection is not always easy. Of all the moles in the United States, only one in 20,000 to 200,000 is a melanoma, so searching for an early-stage melanoma is a lot like looking for a needle in a haystack. The commonly recommended “ABCD” detection technique — looking for moles that are asymmetrical, have an irregular border, have uneven color, or a diameter larger than a pencil eraser — is quite helpful in detecting advanced melanomas, but to catch these cancers earlier, it’s important to take additional steps. Understand Your Risk Profile About half of melanomas occur in just 1 to 5% of the population. The average age of people when it is diagnosed is 65. But melanoma is not uncommon even among those younger than 30, said Dr. Beasley. In fact, it’s one of the most common cancers in young adults, especially young women. High-risk groups include people who have: A personal or family history of melanoma (two or more close relatives who have been diagnosed with invasive melanoma) Dysplastic (atypical) moles Numerous moles (generally more than 50) If you have one or more of these traits, regular skin checks may help save your life. Look Beyond Your Moles Many people are told that they have “pre-cancerous” moles, but this is a poor term: dysplastic (or atypical) moles may never progress to melanoma, and instead, are better considered a risk marker for melanoma. At least half of melanomas appear in normal skin. Look for Moles that Don’t Match Everyone’s moles are different, explained Dr. Beasley, so it’s hard to come up with a blanket description of normal moles versus early melanomas. If you see a new mole that looks different than your other (average) moles — a different color, irregular shape, a more pronounced border — you should have that different mole checked by a doctor. Look for Changes in Your Moles Identifying changing moles is one of the keys to early detection. All moles are new at some point, especially in young adults, so a new or enlarged mole is not necessarily a melanoma. However, if you note a changing mole, it is appropriate to seek medical advice. Don’t Rely on Memory If you have had a previous melanoma, dysplastic moles, or numerous moles, Dr. Beasley recommends asking your doctor about total-body photography. Instead of relying on memory to determine whether a mole has changed or is new, Duke dermatologists offer total-body photography to provide a baseline for comparison at future examinations. Total body photography CDs can be used in the clinic and at home to allow for comparisons. Heed Your Own Concerns If you are concerned about an area on your skin, that is enough reason for your doctor to be concerned as well. Don’t hesitate to ask for a second opinion if needed. To read the original article click here.

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High-Fiber Diet Associated With Improved Progression-Free Survival and Response to Immunotherapy in Melanoma Patients

AHA Publisher — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 08:00:57 +0000

University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center via Newswise – HOUSTON ― Patients with melanoma who reported eating more fiber-rich foods when they began immunotherapy treatment survived longer without cancer growth than patients with insufficient dietary fiber intake, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center published today in Science. The benefit was most noticeable in patients who did not take commercially available probiotic supplements. Parallel pre-clinical studies supported the observational findings. “Research from our team and others has shown that gut microbes impact response to immunotherapy treatment, but the role of diet and probiotic supplements has not been well studied,” said co-senior author Jennifer Wargo, M.D., professor of Genomic Medicine and Surgical Oncology. “Our study sheds light on the potential effects of a patient’s diet and supplement use when starting treatment with immune checkpoint blockade. These results provide further support for clinical trials to modulate the microbiome with the goal of improving cancer outcomes using dietary and other strategies.” Patients who reported eating more fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains met the study threshold for sufficient fiber intake. The 37 patients with sufficient fiber intake had improved progression-free survival (median not reached) compared to the 91 patients with insufficient fiber intake (median 13 months). Every five-gram increase of daily fiber intake was associated with a 30% lower risk of cancer progression or death. When the patients were further grouped according to high- or low-fiber diet and commercially-available probiotic supplement use, response to immunotherapy was seen in 18 of 22 patients (82%) who reported both sufficient fiber intake and no probiotic use, compared to the response seen in 60 of 101 (59%) patients who either reported insufficient fiber intake or probiotic use. Response was defined as complete or partial complete or partial tumor shrinkage or stable disease for at least six months. Probiotic use alone was not associated with a significant difference in progression-free survival or odds of response to immunotherapy. “Dietary fiber is important for gut health, just as it’s important for overall health, and the two things are very tightly intertwined,” said co-senior author Carrie Daniel-MacDougall, Ph.D., associate professor of Epidemiology. “In this study, we saw that dietary fiber also may be important to cancer treatment, which brings us to a point where we can design interventional studies to answer the questions that patients really want answered: ‘Does what I eat now matter and could it impact my treatment outcome?’ We’re united in working to find answers for our patients.” Differences in Gut Microbiota and Pre-Clinical Models The study began with analyzing the gut microbiome profiles of 438 melanoma patients, 321 of whom had late-stage disease and were treated with systemic therapy, and 293 of whom had an evaluable response to treatment over follow-up. The majority of these patients (87%) received immune checkpoint blockade, most commonly PD-1 inhibitors. A total of 158 patients also completed a lifestyle survey of antibiotics and probiotics usage; of these, 128 completed a dietary questionnaire as they began immune checkpoint therapy. The research team reinforced their prior findings, which showed a higher abundance of Ruminococcaceae and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii – well-known and potentially beneficial bacteria involved in the digestion of fiber or starch – in patients who responded to immunotherapy. In contrast to the previous findings, overall diversity of gut bacteria was not associated with response to immunotherapy, potentially due to the larger size of this patient cohort. The researchers also tested higher versus lower fiber diets and probiotic use in several preclinical melanoma models to shed light on the potential mechanisms behind the observational findings from the patient cohorts. In multiple models, probiotic use was associated with impaired response to immune checkpoint blockade, larger tumors, lower gut microbiome diversity and less cytotoxic T cells in the tumor microenvironment. A high-fiber diet was associated with slower tumor growth and significantly higher frequency of CD4+ T cells in pre-clinical models treated with PD-1 inhibitors. Clinical Trial to Build on Findings, Test Effect of Dietary Intervention Based on the early study findings, a randomized clinical trial (NCT04645680), led by co-first author Jennifer McQuade, M.D., assistant professor of Melanoma Medical Oncology, will examine how whole-food-based diets with varying fiber content affect the microbiome and immune response. The study is currently enrolling patients with stage III-IV melanoma who are receiving immunotherapy. “Our research teams within the Program for Innovative Microbiome and Translational Research (PRIME-TR) and Bionutrition Research Core at MD Anderson are collectively working to transform cancer therapy by modifying the microbiome,” Wargo said. “We’re grateful to the patients and families who have participated in our research and are hopeful that this work will ultimately provide evidence-based guidance to help patients take control of their own diets to improve their odds against cancer.” To read the original article click here.

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Learning the ABCDE’s of Skin Cancer

AHA Publisher — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 07:00:03 +0000

Hackensack Meridian Health via Newswise – Skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer in the United States. In fact, it is estimated that one out of seven people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. What Causes Skin Cancer? Certain risk factors put you at higher risk for developing skin cancer. Skin cancer risk factors may include excessive exposure to sun and tanning beds, a history of sunburn, fair skin, family history and certain medical conditions. Melanoma, a type of skin cancer, is a less common, but more serious type of skin cancer. Who Can Develop Skin Cancer? The people most likely to develop skin cancer are individuals with fair skin, blonde or red hair, light-colored eyes, a history of sun exposure or a tendency to burn or freckle when exposed to sun. Those who have a family history of skin cancer are also at increased risk. People of all colors can develop skin cancer. Doing a self-check of your skin once a month at home can help you find changes in the way your skin looks or feels. Use a mirror to check for anything new on your skin, such as a new mole or changes to a mole you already have. Keep track of any changes you may find and discuss these changes with your doctor. The ABCDE’s of Skin Cancer A – Asymmetry: One half of the spot or mole does not match the other half B – Border: The edges are often irregular, uneven, or ragged; the pigment, or color, may spread into the surrounding skin C – Color: The color is not even, and there may be more than one shade or color present; shades of black, brown, and tan may be present; areas of white, gray, red, pink, or blue may be seen D – Diameter: The size of the spot or mole can be tiny, but it usually is larger than the size of a pea (one fourth of an inch) or larger E – Evolving: The size, shape, or color of the spot has changed over the past few weeks or months If you have a lesion or skin change, have a diagnosis and need further treatment, or want a second option, outstanding skin cancer care is right here, close to home. Speak with your doctor right away, if you notice any skin changes. Visit www.mountainsidemedicalgroup.comor call 866-999-5162 to find a doctor near you. Virtual visits are available. Learn more about the Skin Cancer Center at Mountainside at www.mountainsidehosp.com/skin. To read the original article click here.

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Skin Cancer Diagnosis Is About to Undergo a Revolution

AHA Publisher — Tue, 04 May 2021 07:00:20 +0000

Abigail Klein Leichman via Israel21c – When Ofir Aharon was finishing his PhD in electro-optics engineering, his mother was diagnosed with melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. He decided to channel his knowledge into inventing a potentially lifesaving device that could detect unique patterns of light movements in the skin before visible signs such as changes in pigmentation show up on the surface. “Physicians say 50 percent of skin cancer starts out ‘innocent’ and then becomes cancer, but pathologists familiar with tissue structure say 95% of lesions that look innocent already started as cancer. I wondered why there was no tool that could show the early deterioration of lesions well before they became pigmented,” Aharon tells ISRAEL21c. Aharon’s revolutionary discovery is that the movement of light scattering back to the imaging camera from a cancerous lesion looks much different than from a benign lesion. “In skin cancer we see a lot of lateral movement, mainly circular. If the lesion is normal, or if there is no lesion on the skin, this lateral movement looks random, with no prominent movements and thus no directional patterns. But in skin cancer the movement of the backscattered light goes from the middle outward or circles the middle of the lesion.” Aharon established Patternox to develop and commercialize his PatScope scanner, powered by an algorithm that extracts rotational movements from the scan. The product’s technical description is “a multifunctional device for imaging surface/volume irregularities on a skin lesion by shadow gradient pattern imaging.” Having filed a US patent application in early 2020, Patternox will launch a seed round in July with hopes of having PatScope FDA approved and commercialized in about two years. Aharon envisions a unique artificial intelligence (AI) system and reimbursement strategy so patients will be able to perform the scan at home with virtual assistance from their dermatologist. ‘Something We’ve Never Looked at Before’ Florida-based dermatologist Dr. Barry Galitzer is performing clinical trials using a PatScope prototype. “About a year ago, I read an article about Ofir’s technology to test for melanoma in advance, and I contacted him because I was excited about this,” Galitzer tells ISRAEL21c. “It’s a new concept enabling us to see something we’ve never looked at before.” Since December 2020, Galitzer has built a database of almost 200 scanned images. Each lesion is then biopsied and studied under a microscope to compare histological findings with the PatScope scans. The more he uses the scanner the more easily he can discern what he is seeing, Galitzer says. Once there’s a large enough sample database to learn from, AI could interpret the scanned images. “That is the exciting part,” he says. “AI would be incredible in giving us the answers we need.” This technology could reduce unnecessary biopsies, Galitzer adds. “We could evaluate the spot and immediately see if it has signs of abnormality and then take a biopsy to confirm that suspicion.” Another study will begin soon under the direction of plastic surgeons Yoram Wolf and Ofer Arnon at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center in Hadera. Arnon is medical director of Patternox. Checking Astronauts for Skin Damage In addition to detecting skin cancer, the PatScope also could be used to reveal changes in the deeper layers of skin over time, monitoring degradation from, for example, sun damage and aging. The first place this application may be trialed is in outer space. “It is known that astronauts experience accelerated aging in space. One of the main reasons is the change in blood flow, which first affects the papillary layer under the epidermis,” says Aharon. “The method developed by Patternox would help astronauts monitor the behavior of their biggest organ — the skin — as an indicator of their exposure to microgravity, radiation dose, and stress during their missions in the International Space Station,” he explains. Aharon is seeking private or public investment to pursue a proposed collaboration with ICECUBES space application services to send a PatScope to the International Space Station for experimentation. The PatScope also has potential for cosmetic purposes. “For instance, dermatologists and aestheticians could use the scanner to monitor the effects of a prescribed skin cream,” Aharon says. But due to his mom’s history with melanoma, Aharon’s main focus is on detecting skin cancer earlier than ever before possible. “The PatScope shows not just underlying irregularities in patterns of lesions but also why the patterns are considered as a distortion utilizing PatScope’s algorithm analyzing the backscattered light’s lateral movements,” he says. “If we can identify unique characteristics of lateral movements for healthy skin versus skin cancer, we can probably develop artificial intelligence to diagnose skin cancer based on these kinds of movement.” For more information, click here For more information on skin cancer, click here. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Israel21c click here.

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Scientist Develops Instant Non-Invasive Cancer Detection Tech

AHA Publisher — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 07:00:34 +0000

Jon Schiller via Israel21c – An innovative optical technology that can instantly and non-invasively detect and distinguish between different types of skin cancer has been developed by an Israeli scientist at Tel Aviv University. The new method created by Professor Abraham Katzir at the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, employs infrared sensors and optical fibers in order to determine the properties of various lesions on the skin, and to successfully identify them based on their coloration within the infrared spectrum. “We figured that with the help of devices that can identify these ’colors’, healthy skin and each of the benign and malignant lesions would have different ’colors’ which would enable us to identify melanoma,” says Katzir. Currently, between 2 to 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers and 132,000 melanoma skin cancers occur globally each year. One in every three cancers diagnosed is a skin cancer and, according to Skin Cancer Foundation Statistics, one in every five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. Early diagnosis is vital. If a skin cancer is found early, the five year survival rate for melanoma is 99 percent. This new detection method has been successfully tested on 100 patients at a major Israeli hospital, with the study being published in the International Journal of Medical Physics Research and Practice. Following the success of the initial trial, Katzir and his team plan to confirm the evaluation method on hundreds more patients. One of the reasons this new technology is potentially revolutionary is that it gives dermatologists the means to visually diagnose potentially life-threatening cases of skin cancer instantly and non-invasively without the need for a biopsy and further diagnosis by a pathologist. This will save doctors and patients valuable time that can be diverted to treatment. “Melanoma is a life-threatening cancer, so it is very important to diagnose it early on, when it is still superficial,” said Katzir, adding that the new technology has the potential to cause “dramatic change” in the field of diagnosing and treating skin cancer, “and perhaps other types of cancer as well.” While this new method has potential to be a real game changer, saving countless lives thanks to early detection, it is still very expensive. The real challenge, according to Katzir, will be to develop the technology to the point where it can be used in every hospital and clinic in the world. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Israel21c click here.

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6 Groundbreaking Breakthroughs in Melanoma Research

AHA Publisher — Sun, 17 May 2020 07:00:40 +0000

Abigail Klein Leichman via Israel21c – For Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we take a look at significant research which could help doctors and scientists prevent this deadly cancer, or help turn it into a curable disease. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. And one important fact to be aware of is that the most common skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, aren’t the ones that kill. The least common variety, melanoma, causes most skin-cancer deaths because it quickly spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body. That’s why many researchers around the world focus on melanoma, so-called because it starts in melanocyte cells that give skin its color. Israeli skin-cancer researcher Carmit Levy from Tel Aviv University was on a panel discussing melanoma metastasis at last February’s Melanoma Research Alliance retreat in Washington. Her colleague Ronit Satchi-Fainaro chaired a session on novel therapeutic approaches. “We are trying to understand the triggers that cause a melanoma tumor to become metastatic, because that’s the deadly part,” Levy tells ISRAEL21c. “We try to break it down in the skin before it invades the lymph system and spreads around the body.” The rates of melanoma are rising. As of 2018, Australia and New Zealand had the most cases, with the US in 17th place. The American Cancer Society estimates that this year in the United States, about 100,350 new melanomas will be diagnosed and about 6,850 people will die of this aggressive cancer. Below is a review of groundbreaking melanoma research in Israel. The Secret of How Melanoma Spreads In 2016, a team of Israeli, European and American researchers, led by Levy, unraveled the metastatic mechanism of melanoma. They discovered that before spreading to other organs, a melanoma tumor sends out tiny vesicles containing molecules of microRNA. These molecules “prep” the skin’s dermis (inner layer) to receive and transport the cancer cells. The researchers found chemical substances that can stop the process and are therefore potential drug candidates. Levy tells ISRAEL21c this research is still ongoing. Another promising outcome of this groundbreaking study: The changes in the dermis caused by the microRNA, as well as the presence of the vesicles, could help doctors diagnose melanoma in its earliest stages. Levy said this study was “an important step on the road to a full remedy for the deadliest skin cancer. We hope that our findings will help turn melanoma into a nonthreatening, easily curable disease.” Melanoma Nano-Vaccine Tel Aviv University scientists led by Satchi-Fainaro are developing a nano-vaccine against melanoma. They injected mouse models with nanoparticles of two peptides expressed in melanoma cells. This treatment stimulated the immune system and primed it to identify and attack cells containing these two peptides — just like vaccines do for viral diseases. The nano-vaccine so far proved effective in preventing melanoma in healthy mice; in treating primary melanoma tumors in mice; and in treating metastatic brain tissue from melanoma patients. Satchi-Fainaro’s model could also be a foundation for additional cancer nano-vaccines. Preventing Melanoma from Turning Lethal Levy and colleague Tamar Golan discovered that fat cells transfer a protein that enables melanoma cells to turn deadlyand spread aggressively beyond the skin. They successfully blocked that process in mouse models. Now, existing drug therapies for other types of cancer are being tested to block the protein transfer from fat cells to melanoma cells. The Case of the Squeezed Nucleus Molecular biologist Gabi Gerlitz of Ariel University studies what happens to the nucleus of melanoma cells during migration, a key step in metastasis. The nucleus of every cell holds its genetic material, the chromosomes. When melanoma cells migrate, they squeeze themselves to pass through blood vessels or tissues. Squeezing condenses the chromosomes inside the nucleus, causing both physical and genetic changes that enable migration. Gerlitz’s lab showed in mouse studies that interfering with condensation in the nucleus successfully interferes with migration. Ongoing studies look for factors at the nuclear envelope that affect chromosome condensation and cell migration. Slow Fatty Acid Metabolism = Immunotherapy Fail Immunotherapy – boosting the immune system to fight cancer – is successful in only 40% of melanoma patients. One reason could be the rate of a melanoma patient’s fatty acid metabolism, according to a study on engineered mice by researchers from Tel Aviv University, Sheba Medical Center, the Salk Institute and Yale School of Medicine. When fatty acids metabolize slowly, cancer cells have a chance to “hide” from the immune system’s T-cells that are supposed to destroy them. For the short term, this discovery can help doctors choose the best candidates for immunotherapy – patients with faster fatty acid metabolism. In the future, it may be possible to speed up fatty acid metabolism to make immunotherapy effective in more patients. Personalized Immunotherapy Another possible reason immunotherapy fails in 60% of melanoma patients is when the tumor cells differentiate into more diverse subtypes, which are harder for the immune system to kill. That finding comes from a mouse study done by scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology with colleagues from the United States and England. The Israeli researchers from that group, with other international scientists, also discovered a potential way to boost the success rate for melanoma immunotherapy by training the immune system to better recognize and target melanoma cells. They searched for “signposts” of melanoma in mice and selected those to target in each case. The method proved effective against 90% of the cells. Each of these discoveries could be valuable in developing personalized protocols for melanoma immunotherapy. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Israel21c click here.

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Why Immunotherapy fails 60% of Metastatic Melanoma Patients

AHA Publisher — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 07:00:04 +0000

Brian Blum via Israel21c – The ultimate goal is to improve personalized medicine. “Can we predict who will respond?” asks Markel. “Can we alter treatment in order to increase responses?” Immunotherapy has transformed the treatment of many cancers, turning them from incurable to manageable as a kind of chronic illness. But not metastatic melanoma. More than half of patients (some 60 percent) with the disease do not respond to immunotherapy treatments. Researchers at Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine and Sheba Medical Center’s Ella Lemelbaum Institute for Immuno-Oncology wanted to know why. The researchers reviewed the results of 116 melanoma patients treated with immunotherapy. Using a protein mapping technique called proteomics, the researchers discovered a difference in the metabolism, or energy production process, between melanoma patients for whom immunotherapy worked, and those whose cancer proved resistant. Prof. Tami Geiger, head of the Proteomics Lab at Tel Aviv University, explained that her team was able to map thousands of proteins using a mass spectrometer. “We then followed up with extensive computational analysis to identify the proteins that differentiated between the response groups,” Geiger said. The main distinction, according to Geiger: “In the responders, we found higher levels of proteins associated with lipid metabolism, which led to better recognition by the immune system.” Lipids are the building-block molecules of living cells; they are oxidized to create energy in the body in a process known as fatty acid metabolism. Patients whose cancer cells had a faster fatty acid metabolism responded to immunotherapy, while cancer cells that had a slower fatty acid metabolism were able to “hide” from the immune system’s T-cells that are supposed to destroy them. The research was done on mice in collaboration with the Salk Institute in San Diego and Yale School of Medicine. Using genetic engineering, the researchers “silenced” the mechanism responsible for fatty acid metabolism. “Cancer in these mice developed at a faster rate compared to the control group,” Geiger said. Predicting Who Will Respond Best The results could be significant – and not just for melanoma. “These findings can also be relevant to many other malignancies,” said Sheba Medical Center’s Prof. Gal Markel, who led the study with Geiger and Dr. Michal Harel. The ultimate goal is to improve personalized medicine. “Can we predict who will respond?” asks Markel. “Can we alter treatment in order to increase responses?” For the moment, the research will only indicate which patients should take the immunotherapy track and which patients should not because they will know in advance that treatment won’t help. In the future, if scientists can develop targeted medication to raise the levels of fatty acid metabolism, that may help make the 40% of unresponsive patients more receptive to immunotherapies. “In subsequent studies, we [will be] looking for ways to improve the response to immunotherapy and expand the circle of patients who benefit from it,” said Markel. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Although it accounts for only about one percent of skin cancers, it causes a large percentage of skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. Some 7,230 people are expected to die of melanoma in the United States this year. Melanoma is called metastatic when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. The results of the Tel Aviv team’s research were published in the September issue of the medical journal Cell. To read the original article click here.

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