Melanoma drug nearly doubles survival times

Investigators from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) and 12 other centers in the United States and Australia have found that a new drug for patients with metastatic melanoma nearly doubled median overall survival. More than half of patients who were treated with the novel drug vemurafenib, known commercially as Zelboraf, responded to treatment and experienced an impressive median overall survival of nearly 16 months --  longer than the typical six to 10 months for most patients whose melanoma has spread beyond the initial tumor site. “This study confirms what we have discovered in our earlier trials. Many of our patients are exhibiting a strong, immediate response to this drug and some are living significantly longer, with manageable side effects,” said Sosman, professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “It was interesting to note that a few of the patients were treated with the drug for up to six months before showing convincing evidence of response.”