Philip Friedlander

Title : Advances in treatment of metastatic stage IV melanoma through modulation of the microenvironment of metastases using immune checkpoint modulators and subsequent use to treat micrometastases in the adjuvant setting

Abstract:

Melanoma metastases develop through genomic changes in the tumor cells and through microenvironmental factors that create an immunosuppressive tissue microenvironment. Historically the median life expectancy for patients with stage IV melanoma was less than one year. Modulation of immune checkpoint protein activity  particularly through inhibition of programmed death-1 protein (PD-1) alone or in combination with other modifiers has translated into increased rate of durable responses and survival benefit. Currently in the United States approved  treatment options include single agent anti-PD-1 inhibitor, combination PD-1 and CTLA-4 inhibition and combination PD-1 and LAG-3 inhibition. Proper patient selection for these options is crucial.  This efficacy has led to investigation of benefit in the adjuvant setting following resection of stage IIB, IIC, or III melanomas. Novel combinations also are under active investigation including neoadjuvant approaches to kill micrometastatic tumor cells leading to regeneration of a normal tissue environment. This presentation will detail real world best practice use and patient selection  of the different immunotherapy treatment regimens to treat clinically detectable  metastatic melanoma and in the adjuvant setting for high risk resected melanomas. 

Audience Take Away: 

• Treatment of clinically detectable stage IV melanoma through modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment and how to best select amongst the different treatment options.  stage II and III melanoma
• Strategies to manipulate microenvironment of tumor micrometastases to allow for use of immune modulators as adjuvant therapy in patients with high risk resected melanoma.
• Understand investigational clinical approaches to manipulate with therapeutic efficacy the melanoma tumor microenvironment

Biography:

Dr. Friedlander graduated with B.Sci. in Biochemistry from Brown University, USA in 1990. He obtained his medical degree and biology PhD from Columbia University in 1999.  He completed internal medicine residency at Columbia University and oncology fellowship  at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Institute  in 2005. He joined the faculty of Dana Farber Cancer Institute focused on management of melanoma. He joined Mount Sinai Hospital in 2011 as an Assistant Professor (Departments of Medicine and Dermatology) and as Director of the Melanoma Medical Oncology Program. He serves as Principal Investigator on many clinical trials and leads an active specialized clinical practice.