War on "Australia's Disease"

September 28th, 2011

The recent Scott Kirkbride Melanoma Research Centre (SKMRC) public lecture at the State Library of WA gave people from Perth and regional areas the opportunity to hear the latest on treatments for melanoma, a form of skin cancer which Associate Professor Grant McArthur dubbed 'Australia's disease.'

Associate Professor McArthur, from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute in Melbourne, outlined his "War on Melanoma," saying that his research is creating a 'molecular roadmap' of the cancer which helps to understand why melanoma cells spread through the body.

He said there was a one in 18 risk of Australian men being diagnosed with melanoma and the rate in rural and regional Australia was 39 percent higher than in the metropolitan area. The rate for women being diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer was one in 24.

Associate Professor MacArthur said the first step by the community in the war on melanoma had to be prevention. He said skin should be protected during periods of high ultra violet radiation in the middle of the day and just 10 minutes of direct sun exposure in the morning and afternoon would be adequate to prevent Vitamin D deficiencies in most people.

During his lecture to the audience of more than 100 people, the Associate Professor highlighted a media campaign by 26 year old melanoma patient, Clare Oliver, who died from the cancer in 2007 after using tanning salons.

He said that Clare's media campaign proved to be extremely powerful given that 36 hours after her story was broadcast, the Victorian government said it would legislate to ensure that tanning salons adhered to age limits for clients.

He said that he and other researchers had been lobbying for changes in the solarium industry for 2 or 3 years.

To see Clare Oliver's message about solariums and skin cancer, click here.

Associate Professor McArthur told the audience that although efforts to increase awareness and improve prevention were very important messages to get across, the next step in the war on melanoma was early detection, which was crucial for the survival of melanoma patients.

In many cases excising the melanoma during surgery was a simple solution, but he also described the latest advances in BRAF drug therapy to battle the cancer by inhibiting the mutative protein causing melanoma.

Professor McArthur's impressive research results illustrated the rapid reduction in tumours after commencing BRAF treatment in just two weeks in the 50% of melanoma patients with that gene defect. In one study, 90% of the patients experienced shrinkage of tumours.

The survival rate of BRAF therapy patients (84%) was greater at six months than those treated with chemotherapy (64%).

Important research is now underway looking at using BRAF therapy combined with immunotherapy (stimulating the immune system) to help extend the duration of remission experienced using BRAF therapy alone.

During his stay in Perth Associate Professor McArthur visited St John of God hospital in Subiaco, where SKMRC is hoping to create its own all-inclusive treatment centre for melanoma patients.

He was also a guest on ABC 720 local radio's Drive program. Click below to listen to the interview by presenter Russell Woolf and questions from Drive listeners.

Associate Professor Grant McArthur on ABC 720   [MP3, 7.3MB] 7th September 2011

The annual SKMRC melanoma community talk allows Western Australians to hear first-hand the very latest in developments from national and international melanoma experts. Stay in touch for details about next year's lecture.

For more information please contact:

Carolyn Monaghan
Communications Manager
Mobile: 0448 021 932 (media enquiries only)
Office: (08) 9224 0377
Email: carolyn.monaghan@waimr.uwa.edu.au