Exploring New Directions in Melanoma Treatment

Program Director: John M. Kirkwood, MD

Faculty:

Keith T. Flaherty, MD

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Identify agents under investigation in melanoma that target signaling pathways that are dysregulated due to mutations in BRAF
• Discuss the current status of clinical development of these agents
• Describe cell-based immunomodulatory therapy approaches for enhancing immune response to melanoma
• Summarize recent data on their efficacy
• Describe possible approaches for enhancing tumor suppressor gene function in melanoma
• Discuss targeted immunologic agents under study in melanoma and the current status of their clinical development

Topics covered include:

• Introduction
• Targeting Dysfunctional Signaling Pathways
• Looking Beyond the Pathways: Chaperones and Suppressors
• Tipping the Balance Toward Apoptosis
• Immunomodulatory Therapies
• Novel Immunomodulatory Agents Targeting CTLA-4
• Conclusions