Remove lymph not would fight skin cancer – Trade

The surgical removal of part of the lymph nodes around a melanoma , an aggressive type of skin cancer, or after a positive biopsy of these glands, it does not increase the survival of patients, according to results of a large clinical trial presented the annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in , the world’s largest oncology conference.

Typically

People with melanoma and cancer cells in the lymph are at significant risk of recurrence cancer and metastasis, the scientists said.

So in many countries patients are advised removed much of the lymph.

This intervention can bring significant side effects such as infection, nerve problems and lymphatic edema, due to the obstruction of the lymphatic pathways explains Claus Garbe, lead author of the study.

According to the expert This problem may occur in 20% of patients with skin cancer and persist permanently in between 5% and 10% of patients.

No big difference

However, the new study shows that removing the lymph is not an efficient method to combat this type of skin cancer.

“is the first clinical trial that casts strong indications that many patients with melanoma does not need to be removed some lymph” said Dr. Lynn Schuchter, ASCO.

After surgery to remove the tumor main, 483 patients with one melanoma Level III and node positive cancer cells were chosen to from drawing them randomly so that a certain amount of lymph nodes, or to be monitored very closely.

Patients in both groups were followed for 35 months.

In the group that did not undergo surgery of the lymph nodes, 14.6% of patients developed metastases near the main tumor, against 8.3% of those who underwent a lymph node removal.

But the difference in survival at three and five years without recurrence of melanoma , was statistically insignificant between the two groups, say the scientists.

Another analysis of this study are expected in three years. But according to Garbe, it is unlikely that the results are different because previous research showed that a large majority of cases (about 80%) recurrence of melanoma is given in the first three years after diagnosis.

The results of the investigation will prevent thousands of patients with melanoma undergo unnecessary surgery and its significant side effects, say the authors.