Melanoma Bridge 2019

Recent insights into the genetic and somatic aberrations have initiated a new era of rapidly evolving treatments for melanoma.

The possibility to use targeted and immune-based drugs alone, in combination, or in sequence, able to improve responses to overcome the resistance, to potentiate the action of immune system with the new immunomodulating antibodies, and identification of biomarkers that can predict the response to a particular therapy, represent actual concepts and approaches in the clinical management of melanoma.

Melanoma treatment landscape changed in 2011 with the approval of the first anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein (CTLA)-4 checkpoint inhibitor and of the first BRAF-targeted monoclonal antibody, both of which significantly improved overall survival.

Since then, improved understanding of the tumor microenvironment and tumor immuno-evasion strategies has resulted in different approaches to target and harness the immune response.

Approval of new immune- and target-therapies have further improved outcomes for patients with advanced melanoma.

The therapies offer the opportunity for various approaches with distinct modes of action being used in combination with one another, as well as combined with other treatment modalities such as radiotherapy, electrochemotherapy and surgery.

Latest findings in melanoma research and advances on themes of paramount importance for melanoma prevention, diagnosis and treatment, will be discussed in the session dedicated to system biology on immunotherapy, immunogenicity and gene expression profiling, in the two sessions focused on the progresses of melanoma research on biomarkers/precision medicine and on combination strategies, respectively.

Conclusions will be drawn after the “Great Debate” session, where counterpoint views from leading experts on specific controversial clinical issues will be presented and discussed from different points of view:

• local or systemic treatment?
• Do we really need to treat stage IIIA patients with adjuvant?
• What time is better to change treatment: progression disease or stable disease?
• Adoptive cell therapy before or in combination with check point inhibitors?
• Can we stop the treatment on while response?

In order to disclose and stimulate the discussion of new approaches and strategies in the field of melanoma  and, based on the increasing success of “Melanoma Bridge” events over the years since 2011, a panel of international faculty will join the congress that will be held in December 2019.

Presidents of the event are Paolo A. Ascierto (National Cancer Institute, “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy), Igor Puzanov (Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA) and Corrado Caracò Ascierto (National Cancer Institute, “Fondazione G. Pascale”, Naples, Italy), who will gather with the international faculty members in an interactive atmosphere which stimulates discussion and exchange of their experience regarding the most recent advances in research and clinical management of melanoma patients.

Questo evento sarà accreditato per le seguenti professioni:

BIOLOGO

FARMACISTA 

INFERMIERE

INFERMIERE PEDIATRICO

MEDICO CHIRURGO