Melanoma Insights for Professionals – Details, episodes & analysis

In this special podcast recorded from the 2024 Australasian Melanoma Conference, we hear from our international keynote speakers, Prof Susan Swetter and Prof Olivier Michelin, about what excites them in the field of melanoma research.

Interviewed by AMC2024 Co-Chairs, Prof Georgina Long AO and Prof Richard Scolyer AO, our guests provide their multidisciplinary perspectives and highlight the importance of working together to make an impact in melanoma prevention and patient care.

Dermatologist Prof Swetter discusses the evolving role of AI in dermatology and the clinical diagnosis of melanoma, and highlights the opportunity for improved prevention strategies in the US to reduce the incidence of melanoma.

Prof Michelin explores how we’re tackling advanced melanoma, in particular to maximize our current treatment tools and manage drug toxicities. He also discusses expanding access to neoadjuvant therapies and the potential of TIL therapies, alongside AI advancements in histopathological diagnosis to personalise treatment approaches.

This podcast is suitable for multidisciplinary healthcare professionals and researchers.

SPEAKERS

• Prof Georgina Long AO - Co-Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia | Chair, Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney |2024 Joint Australian of the Year

• Prof Richard Scolyer AO - Co-Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia | Pathologist, Melanoma Institute Australia, Senior Staff Specialist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital | Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney |2024 Joint Australian of the Year

• Prof Susan Swetter - Professor of Dermatology, Co-Director of the Pigmented Lesion/Melanoma and Cutaneous Oncology Programs, Stanford University Medical Center and Cancer Institute | Chair, National Comprehensive Cancer Network Melanoma Panel

• Prof Olivier Michelin - Chair, Department of Oncology and the Precision Oncology Service, Geneva University Hospital | Co-Director, Swiss Cancer Centre Léman| Vice-Coordinator, Translational Research Centre in Onco-Hematology

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (October 2024) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia.

MIA’s Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb and HEINE.

Comprehensive infrastructure is essential to driving research progress and improving patient care.

In this podcast, A/Prof Sydney Ch’ng leads an insightful discussion on the groundbreaking research infrastructure that underpins the many groundbreaking achievements at Melanoma Institute Australia. The discussion highlights the Institute’s clinical trial program, translational research, biospecimen bank and melanoma research database, offering a closer look at the critical elements driving progress.

This podcast is suitable for multidisciplinary healthcare professionals, researchers and clinical trials staff.

SPEAKERS

• A/Prof Sydney Ch’ng - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon and Head & Neck Surgeon, Melanoma Institute Australia | Associate Professor of Surgery, The University of Sydney

• Prof Helen Rizos - Cancer Cell Biologist and Research Lead in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences at Macquarie University | Faculty Member, Melanoma Institute Australia

• A/Prof Serigne Lo - Senior Biostatistician, Melanoma Institute Australia | Associate Professor of Biostatistics, The University of Sydney

• Maria Gonzalez - Director of Clinical Care, Melanoma Institute Australia

• Dr Nicole Caixeiro - Head of the Biospecimen Bank, Melanoma Institute Australia

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (August 2024) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia.

LINKS

• 2024 Australasian Melanoma Conference
• Melanoma Education Program

MIA’s Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb and HEINE.

Despite recent advances in management of primary uveal melanoma, more than half of patients develop metastatic disease – often with poor outcomes. New therapeutic approaches to metastatic disease are vital.

In this podcast, A/Prof Matteo Carlino interviews fellow Medical  Oncologist Prof Georgina Long AO and Ophthalmologist A/Prof Max Conway on our latest understanding of the diagnosis and management of early and advanced uveal melanoma, including:

• presentation and diagnostic process
• current treatment options and rationale for local therapy in early melanoma
• determining which patients are suitable for screening for metastatic disease
• developing a surveillance plan based on risk of recurrence
• the different activity of systemic therapy in uveal versus cutaneous melanoma
• importance of the multidisciplinary team
• activity of tebentafusp in advanced uveal melanoma
• the current clinical trial landscape.

This podcast is suitable for Oncologists, Ophthalmologists, GPs, Oncology Nurses and other healthcare professionals.

SPEAKERS

• A/Prof Matteo Carlino - Medical Oncologist, Melanoma  Institute Australia, Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals Clinical  Associate Professor, The University of Sydney
• Prof Georgina Long AO - Co-Medical Director,  Melanoma Institute Australia | Chair, Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney
• A/Prof Max Conway - Ophthalmologist, Save Sight Institute, Sydney Eye Hospital and The University of Sydney

RESOURCES

• Early Ocular Melanoma Patient Information Brochure
• Advanced Ocular Melanoma Patient Information Brochure
• Melanoma Education Portal

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording  (November 2022) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia.

MIA’s Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from MSD, BMS, Novartis and HEINE.

Treating clinicians rely on pathology to help diagnose and stage their patient which fundamentally determines the treatment management  plan. Therefore, it is incredibly important to get it right in the first place.

In this engaging podcast aimed at GPs, our multidisciplinary experts discuss:

• Why can it be challenging to get the pathology right?
• What clinical information is important to include on the pathology request form?
• How is the pathology report structured?
• How is the specimen processed?
• What biopsy is key to maximising the diagnostic and prognostic interpretation of the pathology?
• Are partial biopsies ever appropriate?
• What implications does the type of biopsy have for subsequent surgery?
• When does a GP need to refer their patient?

The discussion is concluded with two case studies to summarise key learnings.

This podcast is suitable for GPs, Dermatologists, Surgeons, Oncologists, Pathologists and other healthcare professionals.

SPEAKERS

• Dr Adrian Quek - Skin Cancer GP, Melanoma Institute Australia and The Chatswood Skin Cancer Clinic
• Dr Alison Potter - Pathologist, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
• Dr Nigel Maher - McMurtrie Cancer Pathology Fellow, Melanoma Institute Australia
• A/Prof Alexander van Akkooi - Associate Professor  in Melanoma Surgical Oncology, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The University of Sydney
• Dr Niamh-Anna O’Sullivan - Specialist Dermatologist, Melanoma Institute Australia

HOST

• Danielle Fischer - Education Program Manager, Melanoma Institute Australia

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (June 2022) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape  and approvals in Australia.

For more practice-changing education, visit our Melanoma Education Portal.

MIA's Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from: MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis and HEINE.

The role of pathology in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma is pivotal to optimal patient care. With so many disciplines relying on the pathologist for accurate diagnoses and critical pathological information, we decided to reach out to our clinical melanoma community to ask them for their critical pathology questions. 

In this podcast, Prof John Thompson AO and Prof Fergal Moloney pick at the brain of the world's leading melanoma Pathologist, Prof Richard Scolyer AO, as they discuss: 

• The clinical information needed to aid diagnosis 
• The role of artificial intelligence and computing in pathology 
• Overdiagnosis of melanoma 
• The problem of partial biopsies 
• Diagnosing borderline lesions 
• What is a melanocytoma and how should it be managed 
• What is an irritated naevus 
• Dysplastic naevi and appropriate management 

This podcast is suitable for GPs, Dermatologists, Surgeons, Oncologists, Pathologists and other healthcare professionals. 

SPEAKERS 

Prof Richard Scolyer AO - Co-Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia | Pathologist, Melanoma Institute Australia, Senior Staff Specialist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital | Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney 

Prof John Thompson AO - Emeritus Professor of Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, The University of Sydney | Member, Melanoma Institute Australia 

Prof Fergal Moloney - Consultant Dermatologist, Melanoma Institute Australia and Mater Misericordiae University Hospital | Clinical Professor, University College, Dublin 

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (June 2022) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia. 

For more practice-changing education, visit our Melanoma Education Portal. 

MIA's Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from: MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis and HEINE.

Cancer drugs have rapidly evolved in the last decade. Alongside the significant benefits are new toxicity profiles that clinicians need to be aware of and manage. In this podcast, A/Prof Carlino interviews fellow Medical Oncologist Prof Georgina Long AO on the adverse events/toxicities associated with targeted therapies (combination BRAF/MEK inhibitors) and immunotherapies (anti-PD-1, anti-LAG-3 and anti-CTLA-4), particularly in melanoma, and how they should be managed.

This podcast is suitable for Oncologists, Emergency Medicine Physicians, GPs, Oncology Nurses and other healthcare professionals.

SPEAKERS

• Prof Georgina Long AO - Co-Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia | Chair, Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney
• A/Prof Matteo Carlino - Medical Oncologist, Melanoma Institute Australia, Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals Clinical Associate Professor, The University of Sydney

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (May 2022) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia.

MIA’s Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from: MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis and HEINE.

The field of melanoma has experienced a paradigm shift in recent years, with advancements in both diagnosis and management driving improved patient outcomes. Through the power of research, day-to-day practice continues to be transformed. 

In this lively podcast, two of Australia's leading melanoma experts Prof Richard Scolyer AO and Prof Georgina Long AO discuss: 

• how melanoma management has transformed in the last decade 
• the challenge of diagnosing melanoma for clinicians and pathologists, and practical ways to help make accurate assessments 
• the importance of staging 
• why sentinel node biopsies are important 
• how multidisciplinary care enhances patient outcomes 
• emerging evidence on neoadjuvant treatment and how this will change the way melanoma is managed 
• the challenge of supportive care and where to find help. 

In this practical discussion, resources and further education for deeper dives into specific topics are also mentioned, with links below. 

This podcast is suitable for oncologists, surgeons, dermatologists, skin cancer GPs, GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals. 

SPEAKERS 

• Prof Georgina Long AO - Co-Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia | Chair, Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney 
• Prof Richard Scolyer AO - Co-Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia | Pathologist, Melanoma Institute Australia, Senior Staff Specialist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital | Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney 

LINKS TO RESOURCES 

• Melanoma Risk Prediction Tools 
• Prof John Thompson's presentation: Update on melanoma staging 
• Order or download a pocket-sized Melanoma Staging Card 
• Prof Richard Scolyer's presentation: Melanoma near misses: Clues to diagnosis 
• Dermoscopy module: Techniques in melanoma assessment 
• Interactive game: DermChallenge: Management. 
• Debate: To shave or not to shave when biopsying melanoma 
• Podcast: Multidisciplinary management of primary melanoma 
• Presentation by Dr Rob Rawson and Dr Michael Rtshiladze: The melanoma pathology report and its impact on clinical management 
• Wiki melanoma guidelines: Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of melanoma 
• Interactive module: The current role of sentinel node biopsy in the management of melanoma 
• Debate: The role of sentinel node biopsy is overstated in melanoma 
• SNB Melanoma Risk Calculator 

Visit the Melanoma Education Portal for the full list of resources.

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (Feb 2022) but maynot reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia. For more practice-changing education, visit our⁠ Melanoma Education Portal. ⁠MIA’s Education Program is proudly supported through unrestricted educational grants from MSD, Bristol Myers Squibb and HEINE. 

Managing in-transit melanoma can be challenging, and it presents and progresses as a heterogeneous disease. Multidisciplinary care is recommended for this complex disease to determine the optimal outcome for the patient. 

In this engaging podcast, our multidisciplinary expert panel - featuring a Dermatologist, Surgeon and Medical Oncologist - discuss: 

• the clinical presentation of in-transit melanoma 
• importance of biopsy and imaging 
• local therapy options including surgical resection, topical diphencyprone, radiotherapy, injectable agents and isolated limb infusion
• systemic therapy options in the adjuvant and unresectable settings. 

In addition, the panel reviews a case study to put learnings into practice. 

This podcast is suitable for Surgeons, Medical Oncologists, Dermatologists, Skin Cancer GPs, GPs, Nurses and other healthcare professionals. 

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (October 2021) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia. 

SPEAKERS 

• A/Prof Matteo Carlino - Medical Oncologist, Melanoma Institute Australia, Westmead and Blacktown Hospitals | Clinical Associate Professor, The University of Sydney 
• A/Prof Robyn Saw - General Surgeon, Melanoma Institute Australia | Associate Professor in Surgery, The University of Sydney | Head of Department, Melanoma and Surgical Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital 
• Prof Diona Damian - Professor of Dermatology, The University of Sydney | Clinical Academic, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital |Associate, Melanoma Institute Australia

Melanoma has many mimics, making detection a challenge. However, early detection and appropriate management of melanoma is crucial to ensuring a patient has the best chance of survival.

In this podcast from Melanoma Institute Australia, our multidisciplinary panel discuss:

• the clinical presentation of melanoma
• tips to help make a clinical diagnosis
• understanding the histological features for diagnosis
• how to know when to biopsy
• which biopsy is best
• ramifications of subtotal biopsies
• who requires a sentinel node assessment and what does that involve

In addition, the panel reviews a case study to put learnings into practice.

This podcast is suitable for Dermatologists, Skin Cancer GPs, GPs, Surgeons, Nurses and other healthcare professionals.

SPEAKERS

• Dr Adrian Quek - Skin Cancer GP, Melanoma Institute Australia and The Chatswood Skin Cancer Clinic

• A/Prof Jonathan Stretch AM - Surgical Oncologist and Deputy Medical Director, Melanoma Institute Australia
• Dr Bruna Gouveia - Dermatologist, Melanoma Institute Australia

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (May 2021) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia.

For more practice-changing education, visit the Melanoma Education Portal (melanomaeducation.org.au).

Due to the highly aggressive nature of Merkel cell carcinoma, accurate and timely diagnosis is essential to ensure optimal management. Although our understanding of the biology of the disease has advanced significantly in recent years, a clinical conundrum still exists regarding the ideal therapeutic strategy for each patient. 

In this podcast, our multidisciplinary panel discuss: 

• the pathology of Merkel cell carcinoma 
• differential diagnoses 
• clinical presentation 
• the role of surgery and its importance in diagnosis, staging and salvage 
• how radiotherapy is used in the definitive and adjuvant settings 
• the role of systemic therapy 
• emerging therapies and the importance of clinical trials. 

In addition, the panel reviews two case studies to put learnings into practice. 

This podcast is suitable for Medical Oncologists, Surgeons, Dermatologists, GPs, Nurses and other healthcare professionals. 

Please note that this podcast was accurate at the time of recording (March 2021) but may not reflect the rapidly evolving treatment landscape and approvals in Australia. 

SPEAKERS: 

• Dr Robert Rawson - Pathologist, Melanoma Institute Australia and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital 
• Dr Kerwin Shannon - Surgical Oncologist and Head and Neck Surgeon, Melanoma Institute Australia and Chris O'Brien Lifehouse 
• Prof Angela Hong - Radiation Oncologist, Melanoma Institute Australia |Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney 
• Dr Ines Silva - Medical Oncologist and Researcher, Melanoma Institute Australia | Fellow, Westmead Hospital