Bob Marley and Skin Cancer
Last Updated: August 17, 2026
Bob Marley was a legendary Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter, widely known for reggae and for spreading messages of peace. What may not be as widely known about him is that he tragically died from skin cancer at 36 years old.
When Marley found a dark spot under his toenail, he initially thought it was from a soccer injury. He was later diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer. When faced with treatment options, doctors recommended that he should have his toe amputated. Marley instead opted to pursue excisional surgery, which removed only the nail bed and cancerous tissue. Unfortunately, that surgery did not stop the cancer from metastasizing, and it aggressively spread to his brain, liver, and lungs, leading to his untimely death.
While most melanoma cases are caused by UV exposure from the sun or indoor tanning, ALM can form under nails, on the soles of the feet, or on the palms of the hands. ALM is considered rare, it is the leading cause of melanoma for patients of color.
A lot has changed in how we detect and treat skin cancer since the 1970s, and if Marley were alive today with the same diagnosis at the same age, he likely wouldn’t have met the same fate.
Israeli Scientists are Advancing the Future of Melanoma Research
Bob Marley’s death is a stark reminder of how deadly melanoma can be. But his story also underscores just how far cancer research has come, and why continued investment in research matters. ICRF supports scientists in Israel who are pushing related research forward, developing new ways to understand how these cancers grow, spread, and resist treatment, and turning scientific discoveries into potential new therapies for patients.
One example is Asaf Madi, PhD, of Tel Aviv University, whose melanoma research is supported through a collaboration between ICRF and the Cancer Research Institute (CRI). In 2026, ICRF and CRI awarded Dr. Madi a $180,000, three-year ICRF-CRI Immunotherapy Collaborative Project Grant to study how to make a promising form of immunotherapy called tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy more effective.
Read the ICRF-CRI announcement about Dr. Madi’s melanoma research
TIL therapy uses immune cells that have naturally entered a patient’s tumor. Scientists can collect these T cells, grow them in the laboratory, and return them to the patient in an effort to help the immune system attack the cancer. While this approach can produce powerful responses in some patients with advanced melanoma, it does not work for everyone, and some patients eventually relapse.
Dr. Madi’s research is focused on understanding why. His team is studying the immune-cell dynamics that influence treatment response and resistance, with the goal of identifying predictive biomarkers and optimizing TIL composition and expansion. Ultimately, the research aims to develop more effective and durable TIL-based therapies for people with melanoma.
Learn more about Asaf Madi, PhD and his research
This is why ICRF invests in the scientists pursuing the questions that could change what is possible for patients. Bob Marley’s story reminds us of how far we have come in treating melanoma. Researchers like Dr. Madi are working to determine how much farther we can go.
ICRF Related Research in Melanoma and Skin Cancer
Learn about some of the other brilliant ICRF-funded scientists working to better understand, diagnose, and treat melanoma and other skin cancers. Their research reflects the breadth of Israeli innovation and its potential impact on patients worldwide.
Current Grant Recipients
Emily Avitan-Hersh, PhD
Past Grant Recipients
Ittai Ben-Porath, PhD
