Breakthrough drugs 'can cure' skin cancer in 'new era’ of treatments

Experts have claimed that they’ve discovered a breakthrough drug that can cure skin cancer.

16:51 30 September 2013

Experts at Cancer Research UK have uncovered what they call a breakthrough drug that could finally be the cure to skin cancer.

Their discovery is a combination of two types of drugs; anti-PD1s and ipilimumab. By combining the two drugs, doctors can effectively reboot the immune system of the patient and can help the body break down the defences of cancer cells. However, this “cure” is still in clinical trials.

Reports confirmed that patients who are severely affected by cancer or in advanced stages have seen “spectacular effects” after they received medication. Doctors suggest that this could eventually be used to cure other forms of condition.

Professor Peter Johnson, chief clinician at Cancer Research UK, said: "We're just at the beginning of a new era of cancer treatments using the immune system.

"These drugs that can turn the body's own defences against a tumour are starting to show real promise for melanoma and other types of cancer.

"It's only through research that we can gain the insights needed to develop new treatments for cancer patients."