MIA shines in poster session
22 November 2019
MIA is well-represented in the poster sessions at the Society for Melanoma Research 2019 Congress in the USA, with four poster presentations being given by members of our translational research lab.
PhD student Grace Attrill presented her work on possible biomarkers of response in Stage III melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. She has found that a specific population of immune cell appears in higher numbers in patients who were treated with anti-PD-1 and did not recur. Her research also found that another subpopulation of immune cells may be associated with increased risk of melanoma recurrence. Grace’s poster notes that these immune cells could be a possible biomarker that may indicate which patients will respond well to immunotherapy.
Recent PhD graduate Dr Tuba Nur Gide, also presented a poster on immune cells in melanoma patients treated with immunotherapy. Dr Gide looked at the distribution of specific immune cells in relation to patient response. She found a significant association between response to immunotherapy and a very short distance between immune cells and melanoma cells. A higher amount of these immune cells that were close to patient melanoma cells also related to better progression-free survival for patients on immunotherapy. These findings could also be used to create better biomarkers of patient response.
Another PhD student, Jarem Edwards, presented his research on tumour mutation burden as a possible factor in patient survival. He found that the number of mutations in a patient’s melanoma was not predictive of the amount of immune cells, nor did they predict response or survival in melanoma patients.
Finally, medical oncology fellow, Dr Lalit Pallan, presented his poster on clinical predictors of outcome in melanoma patients with brain metastases treated with combination immunotherapy. Clinicopathological characteristics of patients are those that can be observed by clinicians through minimally invasive techniques such as scans and blood tests. Dr Pallan found that levels of LDH (an enzyme regularly tested for in the blood of melanoma patients), the number of brain metastases, and prior treatments may be factors that could help clinicians determine the likely outcome of treatment. Notably, patients with a lower burden of brain metastases that are asymptomatic and are treated for the first time with combination immunotherapy are more likely to respond to their treatment and have longer progression-free and overall survival.
Boost to Melanoma Services in the Riverina
Melanoma patients and their families in the Riverina will benefit from strengthened and sustained melanoma services with the merger of the Amie St Clair Melanoma Trust and Melanoma Institute Australia.
Winner of the SunSafe Student Ambassador Program announced
Belmont High School at Lake Macquarie has been announced winner of the 2019 SunSafe Student Ambassador Program video competition.
Community Fundraising November Wrap-Up
It’s time again to say thank you to our amazing community fundraisers!
MIA & MPA Patient Information Evening videos now available
Videos of the sessions at the recent Patient Information Evening co-hosted by Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) and Melanoma Patients Australia (MPA) are now available for viewing.
MIA shines in poster session
MIA is well-represented in the poster sessions at the Society for Melanoma Research 2019 Congress in the USA, with four poster presentations being given by members of our translational research lab.
MIA Co-Medical Director opens SMR Congress in USA
Professor Georgina Long has today opened the Society for Melanoma Research 2019 Congress in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Highly Cited Researchers List names MIA Co-Medical Directors
MIA’s Co-Medical Directors, Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer, have both been named Highly Cited Researchers, according to the Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers 2019 list.
MPA and MIA collaboration
Melanoma Patients Australia (MPA) and Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) have announced a new multi-year agreement to provide enhanced support services for melanoma patients nationally.
Community Fundraising October Wrap-Up
It is time again to say thank you to our incredible community fundraisers who are helping us get closer to our goal of zero deaths from melanoma.
Promising data for advanced melanoma patients
MIA has presented promising data regarding progression-free survival rates for advanced melanoma patients at the ESMO 2019 Congress in Barcelona.
Melanoma Information Forum
We
Community Fundraising September Wrap-Up
Another month has flown by and yet again we have a host of amazing community fundraisers who generously gave up their time to help us reach our goal of zero deaths from melanoma.
Notice for Supporters to Submit to PBAC
Comments in favour of giving patients with BRAF-positive melanoma access to first-line immunotherapy need to be submitted online prior to October 9, 2019.
Tune into Jay's Longest Melanoma March Channel 10 documentary
Jay's Longest Melanoma March documentary is screening this Sunday 22 September at 1pm (AEST) on Channel 10, capturing behind the scenes of the 2000km walk, Adelaide to Sydney in 50 days. Uniting to end melanoma.
Professor Georgina Long Co -Medical Director named Women of Influence in AFR Top 100 List
We are proud to announce that our Professor Georgina
Community Fundraising August Wrap-Up
It’s been a month since we highlighted some of our incredibly generous community fundraisers. We thought we’d have a look back at August and put the spotlight on more of the wonderful people who give up their time to fundraise for MIA, so we can continue to edge closer to our goal of zero deaths from melanoma.
From Lab Coats To Lycra - Australian Melanoma experts take on world Triathlon championships
They are a formidable team - in work and in play
Melanoma Institute Australia hosts SunSafe Student Ambassador Programs 2019
This week, Melanoma Institute Australia hosted the first of six
Australia at risk of falling behind USA and Europe in preventing deadly recurrence of Melanoma
Federal government urged
Team Melanoma smashes City2Surf
We want to thank every member of Team Melanoma and everyone who donated to them. With your help, we are moving closer to our goal of zero deaths from melanoma!