Scientists find immune drug that could halt skin cancer’s deadly spread

Researchers found that pembrolizumab, an immune-activating cancer drug, lowered the risk of distant metastases in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma after surgery. Though recurrence rates overall weren’t significantly changed, the results hint at a meaningful benefit in preventing cancer spread. The nationwide trial, one of the largest of its kind, underscores the promise of immunotherapy for rare, aggressive cancers.