SMR Congress

Making real strides in melanoma care requires an understanding of BRAF resistance mechanisms.

Georgina Long, BSc, PhD, MBBS, FRACP, medical oncologist, translational researcher, Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, discusses which patients may benefit from the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib based on several recent clinical trials.

Victoria Atkinson, MD, of Princess Alexandra Hospital and Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation, Queensland, discusses long-term data from the phase III CheckMate-066 trial.

Since the approval of the first checkpoint inhibitor, ipilimumab, several combinations and monotherapies have gained rapid approval, with continued expansion on the horizon.

Jason Luke, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses how inflammation in the tumor microenvironment can serve as a biomarker in melanoma.

Long-term data continue to show sustained improvements in overall survival with nivolumab alone or in combination with ipilimumab as a frontline treatment for patients with advanced melanoma.

With the FDA approval of the first oncolytic immunotherapy-talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC; Imlygic)-the stage has been set for increased research into these agents.

Michael Krauthammer, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, discusses the role of NF1 mutation in melanoma.

There were few differences in quality of life, global health, and symptom burden between patients with melanoma who were treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab or either agent alone.

Sancy Leachman, MD,PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Dermatology Director, Melanoma Research Program, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, discusses a new tool that oncologists can use with patients to identify melanoma recurrences.

Sheri Holmen, PhD, investigator, Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, the University of Utah School of Medicine, discusses understanding drivers for melanoma metastasis.

There is a wide variety of novel targets and corresponding checkpoint and immune blocker/activator therapies that may soon show promise in cancer care.