Dr. Johnson on the Need for Novel Biomarkers in Melanoma

Douglas B. Johnson, MD, MSCI, assistant professor of medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, clinical director, Melanoma Research Program, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, discusses the need to identify novel biomarkers in melanoma.

Although biomarkers such as BRAF mutations and PD-​1/PD-L1 have assisted in treatment selection in the melanoma space, identifying additional biomarkers has been challenging, says Johnson.

In particular, it has been difficult to develop a biomarker that can inform when to use anti​–PD-1 monotherapy, combination therapy​, BRAF/MEK inhibition, or next-generation therap​ies ​such as intratumoral injections or tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy.

Ultimately, ​the lack of biomarkers represent​s a major unmet need in the melanoma space, Johnson concludes.