Dr. Tawbi on Unmet Needs in Melanoma

Hussein A. Tawbi, MD, PhD, associate professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses unmet needs in melanoma.

There are many unmet needs in melanoma, one of which includes improving the cure rate with the least toxicity. Combination therapies are often used over the course of a patient’s treatment course. As such, physicians have to be aware of the additive toxicities. Developing more potent agents with less off-target effects will be crucial in moving the needle forward, explains Tawbi. As more patients are cured, long-term outcomes and quality of life will become important endpoints to consider.

A lot of progress has been made, states Tawbi, but a lot of work remains. For example, approximately 40% of patients with melanoma will develop brain metastases. Despite recent progress, these patients need more effective agents than those that are currently available to them. One of the best ways to advance progress in this area is through clinical trial participation, concludes Tawbi.