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. 2021 May 15;27(10):2678-2697.
doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-4092. Epub 2021 Jan 7.

The State of Melanoma: Emergent Challenges and Opportunities

Michael B Atkins  1 , Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski  2 , David E Fisher  3 , Susan M Swetter  4 , Hensin Tsao  5 , Julio A Aguirre-Ghiso  6 , Maria S Soengas  7 , Ashani T Weeraratna  8 , Keith T Flaherty  5 , Meenhard Herlyn  9 , Jeffrey A Sosman  10 , Hussein A Tawbi  11 , Anna C Pavlick  12 , Pamela B Cassidy  13 , Sunandana Chandra  10 , Paul B Chapman  14 , Adil Daud  15 , Zeynep Eroglu  16 , Laura K Ferris  17 , Bernard A Fox  18 , Jeffrey E Gershenwald  19 , Geoffrey T Gibney  20 , Douglas Grossman  21 , Brent A Hanks  22 , Douglas Hanniford  23 , Eva Hernando  23 , Joanne M Jeter  24 , Douglas B Johnson  25 , Samir N Khleif  26 , John M Kirkwood  27 , Sancy A Leachman  13 , Darren Mays  28 , Kelly C Nelson  29 , Vernon K Sondak  16 , Ryan J Sullivan  5 , Glenn Merlino; Melanoma Research Foundation
Affiliations

The State of Melanoma: Emergent Challenges and Opportunities

Michael B Atkins et al. Clin Cancer Res. .

Abstract

Five years ago, the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) conducted an assessment of the challenges and opportunities facing the melanoma research community and patients with melanoma. Since then, remarkable progress has been made on both the basic and clinical research fronts. However, the incidence, recurrence, and death rates for melanoma remain unacceptably high and significant challenges remain. Hence, the MRF Scientific Advisory Council and Breakthrough Consortium, a group that includes clinicians and scientists, reconvened to facilitate intensive discussions on thematic areas essential to melanoma researchers and patients alike, prevention, detection, diagnosis, metastatic dormancy and progression, response and resistance to targeted and immune-based therapy, and the clinical consequences of COVID-19 for patients with melanoma and providers. These extensive discussions helped to crystalize our understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the broader melanoma community today. In this report, we discuss the progress made since the last MRF assessment, comment on what remains to be overcome, and offer recommendations for the best path forward.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS of INTEREST

Michael B. Atkins: Advisory Boards: BMS, Merck, Novartis, Genentech-Roche, Eisai, Werewolf, Arrowhead, Pneuma, Leads, Pyxis Oncology, Elpis, Adagene & PACT; Consultant: BMS, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Genentech-Roche, Exelixis, Eisai, Aveo, ImmunoCore, Iovance, Cota, Idera, Agenus, Apexigen, TRV, & Neoleuken; Stock Options: Werewolf & Pyxis Oncology; Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski: Advisory Boards: Helsinn Therapeutics, Inc. & BMS; David E. Fisher: Financial Interest: Soltego, Inc.; Susan M. Swetter: nothing to disclose; Hensin Tsao: Advisory Board: Epiphany Dermatology; Consultant: LazarusAI & Ortho Dermatologics; Section Editor: Up-To-Date; Julio A. Aguirre-Ghiso: Co-Founder/Advisory Board Member/Equity Owner: HiberCell LLC; Financial Compensation: HiberCell LLC; Marisol S. Soengas: Co-Founder: Bioncotech Therapeutics (now Highlight Therapeutics); Ashani T. Weeraratna: nothing to disclose; Keith T. Flaherty: Advisory Boards: PIC Therapeutics, Apricity, Tvardi, xCures, Monopteros, & Vibliome; Consultant: Lilly, Takeda, & Boston Biomedical; Research Funding: Novartis & Sanofi; Board of Directors: Clovis Oncology, Strata Oncology, Kinnate, & Checkmate Pharmaceuticals; Meenhard Herlyn: nothing to disclose; Jeffrey A. Sosman: Advisory Boards: BMS, Array, Nekter, MSD, & Genentech-Roche; Research Funding to Institution: BMS & Corvus; Hussein A. Tawbi: Consultant: BMS, Merck, Novartis, Genentech, Eisai, & Iovance; Research Funding to Institution: BMS, Merck, Novartis, Genentech, Celgene, & GSK; Anna C. Pavlick: Advisory Boards: BMS, Merck, Eisai, Seattle Genetics, Regeneron, Sanofi, Jounce, & Pfizer; Pamela B. Cassidy: nothing to disclose; Sunandana Chandra: Consultant: BMS, Novartis, Regeneron, Sanofi Genzyme, EMD Serono, Pfizer, & Exicure; Paul B. Chapman: Advisory Board/Consultant/Speaking Compensation: Immunocore, Merck, Cell Medica, Takeda Millennium, & AstraZeneca; Research Funding: Pfizer; Stock Options: Rgenix; Adil Daud: Advisory Boards: Xencor, Incyte, Array, Amgen, Eisai, & Boehringer; Research Funding: Merck, BMS, Genentech-Roche, Pfizer, Novartis, Checkmate Pharmaceuticals, & Incyte; Stock Options: Trex & Oncosec; Zeynep Eroglu: Advisory Boards: Novartis, Genentech, Array, Regeneron, & SunPharma; Research Funding: Novartis; Laura K. Ferris: Consultant: DermTech; Bernard A. Fox: nothing to disclose; Jeffrey E. Gershenwald: Advisory Boards/Consultant: Merck, BMS, Novartis, Syndax, & Regeneron; Geoffrey T. Gibney: Consultant: BMS, Merck, Novartis, & Regeneron; Research Funding to Institution: Exelixis; Douglas Grossman: Advisory Board: Orlucent, Inc.; Investigator: Dermtech; Brent A. Hanks: Advisory Board: G1 Therapeutics; Research Funding: Merck, Tempest Therapeutics, Leap Therapeutics, GSK, Sanofi, & A*STAR Singapore; Douglas Hanniford: nothing to disclose; Eva Hernando: nothing to disclose; Joanne M. Jeter: Advisory Board: Array Biopharma; Research Funding to Institution: Merck & BMS; Douglas B. Johnson: Advisory Boards: Array Biopharma, BMS, Catalyst Biopharma, Iovance, Jansen, Merck, & Novartis; Research Funding: BMS; Samir N. Khleif: Advisory Boards/Consultant: Amoon, Adaptive Biotechnology, AratingaBio Inc., AstraZeneca, Aummune, Bioline Therapeutics, Cancer Panels, LLC, CanImGuide Therapeutics, Cytomex, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Incyte, IOBiotechnology, Israel Biotech Fund GP Partners, KAHR Medical, Livzon Mabpharm USA, Lycera, McKinsey Health, Merck, Northwest Biotherapeutics, PDS Biotechnology, Syndax, Tessa Therapeutics, & UbiVac; Research Funding: AstraZeneca, BioLine Therapeutics, Bristol-Myers Squibb, IO Biotechnologies, KAHR Medical, Lycera, MediImmune, Merck, & Syndax; Stock Options: Advaxis Immunotherapy, Northwest Biotherapeutics, PDS Biotechnology, IO Biotechnology, & KAHR Medical; Board Member: Advaxis; Founder/Owner: Clinical Information Technologies, LLC & Georgiamune, LLC; Speaking Honoraria/Travel Reimbursements: AgonOx, Autolus, Bayer, GSK, & Rheos Medicine; John M. Kirkwood: Consultant: Amgen, BMS, Checkmate Pharmaceuticals, & Novartis; Research Funding: Amgen, BMS, Castle Biosciences, Checkmate Pharmaceuticals, Immunocore LLC, Iovance, & Novartis; Sancy A. Leachman: Advisory Boards: Palvella Therapeutics, DermDetect, Inc., Merck, & Orlucent, Inc.; Received Early Access Support Resulting in Publications: Myriad Genetic Laboratories & Castle BioSciences, Darren Mays: nothing to disclose; Kelly C. Nelson: nothing to disclose, Vernon K. Sondak: Consultant: Array, BMS, Eisai, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Polynoma, Regeneron, & Replimune; Ryan J. Sullivan: Advisory Board/Consultant: Asana, Array, BMS, Eisai, Iovance, Pfizer, Merck, Novartis, & Replimmune; Research Funding: Merck & Amgen; Glenn Merlino: nothing to disclose.

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