Targeting the microbiome in patients with melanoma – ready for prime time?

The gut microbiome

The gut microbiome has been shown to play a significant role in a multitude of human diseases and has become a focus of cancer research over the past five years. There is now strong evidence emerging that suggests that the composition of the gut microbiome impacts outcomes of patients with melanoma treated with immunotherapy.

Studies have shown that distinct groups of bacteria were elevated in patients that responded to immunotherapy and were different to those elevated in patients who did not respond.

A variety of approaches are currently being explored to test whether it is possible to improve responsiveness to immunotherapies by altering the microbiome, including Faecal Microbiota Transplants (FMTs), giving patients more defined groups of bacteria or a single species, and dietary changes.

This symposium will present the current evidence base and explore available and emerging interventions looking at ways of bringing research to practice.

Objectives

• Review the emerging research on the important relationship between the microbiome and response to immunotherapy, and provide awareness of how the microbiome can specifically influence the outcome of melanoma immunotherapy
• Explain the interventions that can alter the microbiome and potentially alter response to immunotherapy with implications for translation into practice
• Foster collaboration that will enable further research activities in this area, as well as help develop a framework for a prospective interventional study

Host

A/Prof David Gyorki
Research & Education Lead for Melanoma and Skin Cancers, VCCC Alliance; Surgical Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre; Principal Fellow, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne

Chair

Prof Jonathon Cebon
Former Medical Director, and Head of Cancer Immunobiology Program, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute
Former Medical Oncologist, and Medical Director of Cancer Services, Austin Health

Speakers

Prof Sammy Bedoui
NHMRC L2 Investigator, and Theme Leader Immunology, Doherty Institute for Infection and Immmunity
Director of Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Melbourne

Dr Miles Andrews, Monash University
Medical Oncologist, The Alfred
NHMRC Early Career Fellow, Monash University

A/Prof Shahneen Sandhu
Medical Oncologist, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Clinician Researcher - Melanoma and Uro-oncology Units, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Rose Rocca
Senior Clinical Dietician, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Dr Emily Wright
Gastroenterologist, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

Melissa Sheldon
VCCC Alliance Cancer Consumer representative

Friday 27 May 2022

2.30pm - 4.30pm presentations
4.30pm - 5.30pm networking and discussions

SOLD OUT
Please join waiting list to be notified of any vacancies. 

For further information please contact Dr Vino Pillay, Program Manager - Distributed Leadership, VCCC Alliance [email protected]