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SCIENTISTS HAVE DEVELOPED a test which reliably predicts the spread or return of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.
The technological advance came as they made a breakthrough in understanding the mechanism of skin cancer growth.
Professor Penny Lovat, of Newcastle University, led the work on developing the test which will give reassurance to patients diagnosed with an early stage melanoma.
The test, known as AMBLor, is applied to a standard biopsy of the primary melanoma when it is removed and will identify patients who are at a low risk of cancer reoccurring or spreading.
Professor Lovat said: “Our test offers a personalised prognosis as it more accurately predicts if your skin cancer is unlikely to spread.”
“This test will aid clinicians to identify genuinely low risk patients diagnosed with an early stage melanoma and to reduce the number of follow-up appointments for those identified as low risk, saving the NHS time and money.”
The British Skin Foundation supported the research, which was done in association with the university spin-out firm Amlo Biosciences.
The foundation’s chief operating officer, Phil Brady, said: “The development of the AMBLor test can alleviate stress and anxiety for patients caused by this potentially deadly skin cancer, whilst increasing efficiency and reducing costs to the NHS.”
The test identifies a patient’s true risk of disease progression and provides anyone diagnosed with a non-ulcerated early stage melanoma – accounting for around 75% of all new diagnoses – more accurate information about the risk of the disease spreading.
The scientists have published their findings on the mechanism of how the skin works – which underpins the test – in the British Journal of Dermatology.
There are approximately 1,100 people diagnosed with melanoma every year in Ireland, resulting in 160 deaths.
Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer due to its ability to spread to other organs in the body.
It is less common than other forms of skin cancer however, but is still ranked as the fourth most common form of cancer in Ireland when other skin cancers are excluded.
More than a quarter of skin cancer cases are diagnosed in people under 50, which is unusually early compared to most other types of cancer.
Over recent years, skin cancer has become much more common in Ireland. This is thought to be the result of increased exposure to intense sunlight while on holiday abroad, according to the HSE.
The team who developed the AMBLor have made an application for the test to be made available on the NHS.
The Irish Cancer Association has welcomed the new research, hoping that it will aid in identifying new diagnostic markers for melanoma.
“We hope additional real world studies in the coming years will find that this research is beneficial in helping patients make decisions as to their best options for care,” a spokesperson said.
“Many forms of skin cancer are potentially avoidable by not using sunbeds, reducing our overexposure to sunlight, for example in our work life and when out and about doing daily activities and on holiday and this is important as rates of skin cancers in our community continue to rise.”
Their free supports are also available through cancer.ie or their Freephone Support Line 1800 200 700.
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Bad batch of illegal narcotics is being made out like a bad batch of pasteurised milk or baby food. These are drugs that have been mixed with anything and everything .
Step up the war against drugs, don’t appease them.
@Edward Vanderlee:
How is the war going ?
50+ years now.
@Edward Vanderlee: The war on drugs has been a complete and abject failure and the world has thankfully started to move on to different approaches. It’s not about rewarding or appeasing users and sellers, it’s about reducing harms to society as a whole. You may not particularly like or approve of the introduction of supervised injection centres, but I for one applaud them as a lesser evil than shooting up in alleyways and laneways in broad daylight. Get with the times, boomer.
@Kevin Collins: it’s also about Not punishing people who end up mostly through no fault of there own in addiction and or with mental health problems. We wouldn’t jail someone who had cancer but the jails are full of addicts. #childhoodtrauma
@T Paul Kelly: its not going well but it’s 100% the right thing to do.
I live a short walk from Thomas Street in Dublin. The amount of addicts in that area is terrible, publicly injecting.
No society should normalise that.
Support the addicts and jail the dealers.
@Edward Vanderlee: It’s not going well but it’s the right thing to do ? Think about that statement. The answer is counterintuitive but unfortunately we all have to wait for the less agile thinkers like yourself, to catch up with the rest of us. Then we can finally start changing policy, making a difference and saving lives.
@Declan Doherty: no need to resort to insults now Declan. I’m perfectly agile mentally.
I saw three people injecting eachother in the entrance of a hotel the other day on my way to work.
Those poor people. The poor gardai trying to police it too where the courts are a revolving door.
Nothing ageist about it… that’s not acceptable in any society.
I’m in the hostels and there was three deaths in my hostel alone while that batch was going around and I know of good few who died. Why has there been no reporting on that?
Would the author of this piece care to find out how many died during that bad batch?
Or are we too woke to print that kind of thing?
@Denis Rathsallagh Brady: how is that ‘woke’ in any way? Didn’t they have an article a week or two ago detailing a number of deaths to that point if i recall, do you not believe them or something?
@Setanta O’Toole: I obviously didnt read that article but it would be helpful if the figures were put into this article too.
Ive even given them the number for Merchants Quay Ireland.
You sure it was deaths due to this bad batch and not lives saved by Naloxone?
I mean, one knows the risks. Choices
Have to say well done to the department of health who see the value of harm reduction ( eg festival pill testing) – pity the Department of Justice seem to be trapped in the dark ages.
Here ill help you out.
Heres Merchants Quay phone number wont take you a minute to ring them.
(01) 524 0160
The police forces knows who are the dealers, yet no one is getting locked up
@Dominic Leleu: locking up those who do drive is counterproductive. We have overflowing prisons at the present time and you want to add more??? rehabilitation, awareness campaigns though workforces, schools, PLC colleges, 3rd level etc is the way to go.
@Dominic Leleu: forget the typo lol meant drugs not drive lol
@alan scott: those are mere bandages… As long as we have a drugs policy from the 1980s the only outcomes will be rich mob bosses and endless, needless death and crime.
Need to give it to lecturers and staff at all the third level colleges.
Hilarious that anyone thinks our rightwing government cares about saving lives.
80th worst healthcare system in the world.
75k homeless
Drugs policy from the 1980s, which is enriching gangs and killing the sick.
Suicide epidemic
Etc.
We – as a people – are far more likely to throw babies in a septic tank than help the poor and sick.
@Chris O’Brien: Multiple-choice question.
Are you:
a. deranged?
b. delirious?
c. profoundly delusional?
d. lying?
have your say