'Biggest leap in 30 years' for treatment of skin cancer

Scientists today announced the discovery of two new drugs that can extend the lives of patients with advanced skin cancer.

A pill called Vemurafenib appears to give sufferers a greater chance of surviving longer than chemotherapy while Ipilimumab, taken intravenously, has been found to give patients extra years of life.

The results were presented at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago today. A trial found 84 per cent of patients who took Vemurafenib twice a day were still alive six months later compared with 64 per cent of those having chemotherapy.

Results from another study showed a course of Ipilimumab may extend the survival of patients with advanced melanoma. At least one patient is still alive five years after receiving the treatment. Research is now being conducted to find out whether Vemurafenib could be used for other cancers.

Professor Richard Marais, of the Institute of Cancer Research, said: "This is the biggest breakthrough in melanoma treatment in more than 30 years."