MIA team share learnings at key international conferences

On Day 1 of ASCO, Assoc Prof Ines da Silva – medical oncologist, translational researcher and MIA faculty member – chaired a session on ‘Management of High-Risk Stage II Melanoma and Beyond: A Case-Based Multidisciplinary Discussion’.

There was a strong showing from Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) on Day 2 of ASCO26 with several poster presentations highlighting our research.

Prof Georgina Long AO presented a poster on the NeoIRENIE trial currently in progress. This study uses advanced biological profiling to help doctors to predict which patients are most likely to respond to standard PBS treatment, and which patients are in the ‘third space’ and will more likely benefit from new therapies offered through clinical trials. This is a true MIA multidisciplinary trial, which will be expanding across Australia and internationally.

Prof Long also presented a poster outlining updated brenetafusp (ImmTAC) data, a molecule that bridges T-cells (immune cells) directly to tumour cells – another example of work in the ‘third space’.

Assoc Prof Alex van Akkooi presented a poster on MSLT-3, an MIA-led surgical trial opening globally. The trial is investigating if less invasive Selective Index Lymph Node Dissection is OK for stage III melanoma patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy.

Assoc Prof Ines da Silva’s presented two posters. The first was on work she is leading on ADAPT-M, a dynamic tool predicting recurrence on and off adjuvant immunotherapy in early-stage melanoma. The second was on PD-1 vs Ipi+Nivo in uveal melanoma, which was discussed more at a melanoma oral presentation on Day 3.

View all ASCO26 posters here.

Day 3 of ASCO26 delivered another wave of important clinical conversations and emerging evidence – and another strong day for melanoma.

Prof Georgina Long AO presented findings from the NeoReNi II clinical trial led by MIA. The trial is the first in the world to trial pre-surgery (neoadjuvant) combination immunotherapy in patients with high-risk stage II melanoma. Neoadjuvant immunotherapy is already the standard of care for higher-risk stage III melanoma, and NeoReNi II asked whether the same strategy could help patients with high-risk stage II disease, where the melanoma has not yet spread to the lymph nodes. Results were very encouraging with 65% of patients having a major pathological response but need to be confirmed in larger studies.

Assoc Prof Matteo Carlino, medical oncologist, translational researcher and MIA faculty member, presented 5-year data from KEYNOTE-942, a randomised phase II trial of immunotherapy alone compared to immunotherapy + personalised mRNA vaccine (built from the patient’s own tumour) in high-risk resected melanoma. The study showed a benefit in relapse-free and overall survival at 5 years. Assoc Prof Carlino explains more in this video.

Rebecca Johnson, MIA’s Melanoma Nurses Program Manager, presented a poster on SN-OPT, the first tool to integrate clinical complexity and facility capacity for specialist cancer nurse allocation. This data-driven model supports equitable access to nursing care, including for regional and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients, with potential for use across cancer streams and countries.