skin

Mayo Clinic dermatologist who led ERIVANCE, the trial that established vismodegib, the first Hedgehog pathway inhibitor, for advanced basal cell carcinoma.

Athens dermatologist who led the trial showing that cemiplimab works in advanced basal cell carcinoma after Hedgehog inhibitors have failed, and who co-authors the European skin cancer guidelines.

Basal cell carcinoma is a skin cancer and the most common cancer of all, caused by sun exposure and almost never life-threatening. Nearly all are removed surgically; the rare advanced cases are treated with drugs that block the hedgehog signalling pathway, and with immunotherapy if those fail.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is a sun-related skin cancer with over a million US cases a year, almost all cured by removing them. The 2 to 5% that grow deep or spread respond to PD-1 immunotherapy (cemiplimab, pembrolizumab), which is now also given after surgery in high-risk cases; transplant recipients cannot safely receive it.

Melbourne oncologist who led C-POST, the trial that showed cemiplimab after surgery and radiotherapy cuts recurrence in high-risk cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma.

Marseille dermatologist who led KEYNOTE-629, which established pembrolizumab for advanced cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma, and who has been a senior investigator on many European melanoma trials.

Kaposi sarcoma is a blood-vessel cancer caused by the herpesvirus HHV-8, made famous by the AIDS epidemic. In people with HIV, antiretroviral therapy alone often shrinks it; liposomal doxorubicin or paclitaxel treat advanced disease, and it remains among the commonest cancers in sub-Saharan Africa, where paclitaxel is often unaffordable.

The skin cancer that proved immunotherapy works: half of advanced patients now live 10 years. Also the first with an approved TIL therapy, an oncolytic virus, and a positive phase 3 personalised vaccine.

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, fast-growing skin cancer, usually caused by a common virus (Merkel cell polyomavirus) or by sun damage. It was almost untreatable once it spread; PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy now gives lasting responses in about half of patients.

Houston dermatologist who led the trials that established cemiplimab, the first drug approved for advanced cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma, and sonidegib for basal cell carcinoma.

Houston surgeon who led the trial showing that giving cemiplimab before surgery can eliminate cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma in about half of patients, sparing many from extensive operations.

Seattle oncologist who led STAMP, the trial that showed pembrolizumab after surgery reduces recurrence of Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer.

A melanoma inside the eye that is biologically unrelated to skin melanoma: different mutations, no response to standard immunotherapy, and a tendency to spread to the liver years later. Tebentafusp is the first drug ever to extend survival in the metastatic disease.