ASCO 2014: Dr. Jeffrey A. Sosman gives his top picks in melanoma research

1. Abstract LBA 9000, Antoni Ribas et al.

Efficacy and safety of the anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody MK-3475 in 411 patients (pts) with melanoma (MEL).

http://abstracts.asco.org/144/AbstView_144_133842.html

2. Abstract LBA 9008, Alexander M. Eggermont et al. Ipilimumab versus placebo after complete resection of stage III melanoma: Initial efficacy and safety results from the EORTC 18071 phase III trial.

http://abstracts.asco.org/144/AbstView_144_130118.html

Dr. Jeffrey A. Sosman

3. Abstract 9011, Georgina V. Long et al.

COMBI-d: A randomized, double-blinded, phase III study comparing the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib to dabrafenib and trametinib placebo as first-line therapy in patients (pts) with unresectable or metastatic BRAF^V600E/K mutation-positive cutaneous melanoma.

http://abstracts.asco.org/144/AbstView_144_128598.html

4. Abstract 9008a, Howard L. Kaufman et al.

Primary overall survival (OS) from OPTiM, a randomized phase III trial of talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) versus subcutaneous (SC) granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for the treatment (tx) of unresected stage IIIB/C and IV melanoma.

http://abstracts.asco.org/144/AbstView_144_133898.html

5. Abstract 9010, Keith Flaherty et al.

Updated overall survival (OS) for BRF113220, a phase 1-2 study of dabrafenib (D) alone versus combined dabrafenib and trametinib (D+T) in pts with BRAF V600 mutation-positive (+) metastatic melanoma (MM).

http://abstracts.asco.org/144/AbstView_144_134903.html

Dr. Jeffrey A. Sosman is professor of medicine and Ingram Professor for Cancer Research, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.