Scientists in the United States are giving hope to skin cancer sufferers with news of a drug that may extend their life.

Trials at the Massachusetts General Hospital showed that the tumours of 80% of patients with malignant melanoma were reduced in size and in some cases disappeared altogether. The drug is aimed at patients with a specific mutation in the BRAF gene; the researchers say that in many cases the cancer will return but that the trials suggest that using the drug may allow the patient extra time to be with their loved ones.

Keith Flaherty, one of the scientists at Massachusetts, said: “Metastic melanoma has a devastating prognosis and is one of the top causes of cancer death in young patients. Until now, available therapies were few and unreliable.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/25/skin-cancer-drug-trials-patients