Over five million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States, making it the most common type of cancer in the nation. Despite melanoma making up only 1% of all skin cancers in the US, it is a leading cause of death in a majority of patients with skin cancer. However, this type of cancer is also one of the most preventable with the right education and precautionary measures. Even for melanoma, the 5-year survival rate in patients is 99% when caught early. Every year in May, Skin Cancer Awareness Month provides an opportunity to speak up about the dangers of skin cancer, share the facts and help save lives. Given its widespread prevalence, there have been considerable advancements in cancer research and exciting clinical trials related to skin cancer. Between 1994 and 2014, the diagnosis and treatment of non-melanoma skin cancers in the U.S. increased by an impressive 77%.

In honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, this article spotlights several promising therapies coming up in 2024. Read on to learn about the top five skin cancer research advances being supported by sponsors, contract research organizations (CROs), and researchers!

1. Predicting Patient Response to Skin Cancer Treatment with Immune Cells

In a recently published study in Nature Cancer, researchers found that a particular type of immune cell, the Vd1-gd T cells, can be used to predict which patients are likely to respond favorably to immunotherapy treatments. Immunotherapy, specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), work by blocking certain proteins made by some types of immune cells and cancer cells, enabling the immune system to kill cancer cells more effectively. The study analyzed clinical trial data from 127 patients with melanoma who were treated with ICIs that targeted the programmed death-1 (PD-1) protein immune checkpoint. Their results showed that the presence of Vd1-gd T cells was highly predictive of positive responses to ICI therapy. The findings from these types of cancer trials could potentially revolutionize skin cancer treatment, reducing both costs and risk of side effects by offering a precise method for determining which patients are most likely to benefit from current immunotherapies.

2. Amtagvi: The Newest FDA-Approved Treatment for Advanced Melanoma

In February 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lifileucel (Amtagvi), a novel immunotherapy that uses tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and is the first cellular therapy to be approved for a solid tumor, advanced melanoma. Immunotherapy is the practice of using a patient’s own immune cells to combat their tumor. In TIL therapy specifically, tissue samples from the individual’s tumor are extracted, then the immune cells are cultivated in a lab; next, these cells are introduced into the patient’s body, where they can find and eliminate cancer cells. In this Amtagvi clinical trial, 73 patients were treated and the response rate was 31.5%; among these patients, 43.5% of individuals showed no tumor progression or died at 12 months. Although the therapy does have some side effects, such as severe low blood count and severe infection, it represents an additional option that could save more lives in patients with advanced melanoma.

3. Technological Advances in Early Detection and Diagnosis of Skin Cancer

As described earlier, even melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has a five-year survival rate of 99% when diagnosed early. For this reason, a rapidly evolving area of skin cancer research includes developing newer, less invasive tools for the testing, detection, and diagnosis of skin cancer. First, there has been a rise in the creation of smartphone apps supported by artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which shows potential in detecting concerning areas on the skin that need medical attention. Second, spectroscopic devices are handheld devices that help healthcare providers determine if an abnormal skin area is likely cancerous without having to remove it. Because cancer cells emit different patterns of light particles than normal cells, these devices could identify potential cancerous areas. Lastly, optical biopsies using reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) can enable clinicians to determine whether a suspicious area of the skin needs to be removed. This method uses a low-power laser to create a detailed 3D image of the area and its use is expected to become more widespread in the future in skin cancer research.

4. mRNA Skin Cancer Vaccine: A Promising Treatment for Advanced Melanoma

In January 2024, the promising results of a Phase II clinical trial for a skin cancer vaccine based on messenger RNA (mRNA) were presented. Developed by Moderna, this vaccine, mRNA-4157 or V940, is designed to work with KEYTRUDA, another immunotherapy treatment from Merck, to combat skin cancer. Similar to other immunotherapies, this vaccine utilizes a synthetic mRNA code to produce more than 30 antigens to train and activate a patient’s immune system to mount an anti-tumor response. The trial showed that using these treatments together reduced the risk of recurrence or death in the next three years by 49%, while the risk of disease progression or death was also reduced by 62% compared to using KEYTRUDA alone. In the face of these promising results, both the U.S. FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have agreed to fast-track this drug for future approval.

5. Nanoparticle-Based Treatment Approaches in Cancer Research

Nanoparticles, particles with one dimension less than 100 nanometers, have emerged as potential drug delivery systems in cancer research. Because they can be customized with conjugation and coating, nanoparticles offer increased specificity and decreased off-targeting, improving the outcomes of photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and combination therapy in skin cancer treatment. For example, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have demonstrated cancer cell apoptosis, tumor growth inhibition and regression, and significant cell reuptake when conjugated with anti-CD20+ compounds. However, given that this concept is still in its nascent stages of development, few skin cancer trials have been conducted to evaluate its efficacy. However, one recent Phase I/II study investigated a topical nanoparticle paclitaxel ointment on patients with breast cancer with cutaneous metastases and found the treatment to be safe and well tolerated. These results support the promise of this novel approach in skin cancer treatments, but more research is required to ensure nanomedicine implementation is safe in the clinical setting.  

Conclusion 

In conclusion, skin cancer research is undergoing several advancements, with a range of promising innovations in 2024 alone offering exciting new options for patients living with this disease. Although some of these therapies are still in clinical trials, they hold immense potential to change the lives of millions of people. This upcoming Skin Cancer Awareness Month (May 2024), TFS HealthScience Oncology CRO invites you to celebrate the relentless efforts of researchers, sponsors, and CROs worldwide who are dedicated to developing treatments against skin cancer.  

Discover TFS HealthScience’s Cancer CRO  

TFS HealthScience’s oncology and hematology services are dedicated to providing comprehensive support for your clinical trials, whether they’re local or global. With a proven track record of over 300 cancer trials across all phases, we’re committed to delivering solutions that match your needs. Our global operations teams are specialized in skin cancer research, offering rigorous operational oversight and adherence to global standards under the strong leadership of Bin Pan (Ph.D.), Executive Director, Head of Oncology & Hematology at TFS. Visit our CRO website to learn more or connect with a TFS representative here!