Cancer Research UK The main cause, melanoma is considered excessive exposure to the sun. About half of these treatments seem beneficial, therefore it has the potential to help about a quarter of all patients with advanced melanoma. The study in the British Medical Journal found that those in the study survived an average of 16 months, compared to nine months with conventional treatment. Kate Law, director of clinical and population research at Cancer Research UK, said the treatment was part of a new generation of anti-cancer drugs targeting specific patient genetic makeup. Although it offers hope, she said, it is not a cure as cancer eventually becomes resistant to the drug. Melanoma, also known as malignant melanoma, is a type of skin cancer that is invasive and dangerous. Dr. Anthony Ribas, professor of Hematology/Oncology and researcher at the Anderson Cancer Center at UCLA, said: "This study shows that Zelboraf changes the natural history of this disease. This data exceeded my expectations." Elizabeth Woolf, head of Cancer Research UK's cancer information website Help UK, said: "This is an interesting, impressive, but relatively small trial of a promising new generation of drugs for melanoma, which is a source of pride for Cancer Research UK in playing a role in its development." According to the European Medicines Agency, the drug has been recommended for approval in Europe, pending final approval by the European Commission. "We have seen a large number of patients with sustained responses to the drug, and the entire group of patients are living longer." [Ming You Jing Chun Optimization Room QQ contact 466401604883847810 product keywords guarantee 4 on Baidu's first page eight thousand a year send a website! Contact number 13422475786] Drug resistance We need these targeted drugs, but we still have a series of studies to do to solve the problem of resistance," she said, adding that there are still unanswered questions beyond just cost. Cancer Research UK said that once the drug is approved in Europe, patients will be able to discuss treatment options with their doctors. Using sunbeds and sunlamps may also increase the risk of melanoma. Continue reading the main story She told the BBC: "This is not a cure - you're talking about an extra six months of life." Starting report Malignant melanoma Kate Law Continue reading the main story "Everyone in the trial received the drug, so we cannot tell how big the benefit is compared to those who did not receive it or had other treatments. Since the drug targets a specific gene mutation, only about half of all melanoma patients qualify. Before this, there had been no new drugs for the cancer for over a decade. "We are somewhere with these targeted drugs, but we still need a series of studies to solve the issue of resistance." Vemurafenib (Zelboraf) has been recommended for approval in Europe. In the UK, patients will be eligible for the Cancer Drugs Fund, the charity said. Around 2,000 people die each year in England and Wales from melanoma. "These results tell us that this drug has a very significant impact, changing how we treat metastatic melanoma." Melanoma is relatively rare, accounting for 10% of all skin cancer cases. A new treatment for advanced skin cancer almost doubles survival time, according to an international study. Melanoma is responsible for most deaths due to skin cancer. Vemurafenib is suitable for about half of patients with advanced melanoma targeting tumors expressing a specific gene mutation. "Looking at these uncertainties, and now that the drug is aimed at UK cancer patients, it will be interesting to see the price the manufacturer charges, given the already scarce healthcare resources under great pressure." The treatment is a drug for advanced melanoma approved quickly last year in the U.S., offering hope for patients with advanced melanoma. Doctors said that 132 patients in the U.S. and Australia who were taking the drug vemurafenib gained some extra months of life. Related subject articles: Is McIlroy All job seekers 5-megapixel camera If detected early