As part of our commitment to maintaining strong subject matter expertise in Oncology, a couple of members from the FUSE Health team had the privilege of attending the 9th Annual Canadian Melanoma Conference in Whistler, BC (February 19-22, 2015).
The conference kicked-off with a touching survivorship story by Kathy Barnard, President and Founder of the Save Your Skin Foundation. Kathy shared her personal journey through the fight against stage IV malignant melanoma, after being given six months to live following her life-changing diagnosis in 2003. Almost 12 years later, Kathy stood strong at the podium on Friday morning and for the first time since being cancer-free in 2007, she proudly declared herself a survivor of melanoma. Kathy also shared the moving stories of other melanoma survivors, to officially launch the Foundation’s new survivorship initiative, I’m Living Proof.
Save You Skin Foundation video on survivorship in melanoma.
Survivorship was a key theme at this year’s melanoma conference, as presentation after presentation continued to outline the improved survival benefits of newer therapies compared to previous standards of care. In this regard, discussion on immuno-oncology therapies dominated, as presenters recapped data from the different pivotal studies for the CTLA-4 (ipilumumab) and PD-1/PDL-1 (nivolumab, pembrolizumab) immune-mediated checkpoint inhibitors. With over 70% of previously untreated patients taking nivolumab or pembrolizumab remaining alive at 1-year, recent therapeutic advances reinforce the the concept of survivorship for patients with advanced melanoma and offer comfort and hope to those fighting the disease. Delegates were quick to comment that they eagerly await results of ongoing studies on combination therapy and maintenance therapy approaches with immuno-oncology agents, as these approaches may offer further benefits to their patients.
Not to be overshadowed…
…targeted therapies modulating the BRAF (vemurafenib, dabrafenib) and MEK (trametinib) signalling pathways were also focal points for discussion. Physicians emphasized the importance of developing an upfront treatment plan to deal with treatment resistance and reiterated the value of multi-discplinary teams in informing treatment decisions.
Intralesional therapy (interleukin-2, T-VEC) captured the audience’s attention as well, as both Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle and Dr. Ross Merrick presented compelling data to suggest that there is indeed a role for each of these approaches in advanced melanoma treatment.
The Melanoma Network of Canada (MNC) also demonstrated their continued support of patients with melanoma and their caregivers. The MNC Team had an active presence at the meeting, disseminating information on the fight against melanoma and sharing their newest resource on uveal melanoma with the crowd. Well done!
From patients to Surgeons and Oncologists to Dermatologists, delegates heard from all groups. Overall, attendees were treated to an informative and insightful three-day experience at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
The story of immuno-oncology is just beginning and the gang here at FUSE Health is excited to form new partnerships with patient groups, physicians and industry, as the next developments in melanoma unfold in Canada. What a cliffhanger….
Jai Sharma
Director, Integrated Communications