Updates in Neoadjuvant Therapy for High-Risk Stage II and Stage III Melanoma and Implications in Surgical De-escalation

Thursday, March 5, 2026

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM MST

Location:301D

CE: 1

Moderator(s)

Sarah Bateni, MD

Assistant Professor
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Vestavia Hills, Alabama, United States

In this session, we will discuss the most recent clinical trial results and updates for neoadjuvant immunotherapy in melanoma patients with high-risk stage II and III disease. We will discuss the implications of these clinical trials in surgical de-escalation.

Learning Objectives:

Summarize the results with respect to sentinel node biopsy rates for neoadjuvant immunotherapy in high-risk stage II melanoma.
Identify patients that may benefit from surgical de-escalation based on response to neoadjuvant immunotherapy.
Describe methods of surgical de-escalation in high-risk stage II and stage III melanoma.

Presentations:

4:03 PM - 4:13 PM MST

Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab in Patients with Stage IIB/IIC Melanoma
Faculty: Giorgos C. Karakousis, MD (he/him/his) – Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System
4:13 PM - 4:31 PM MST

Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in High-risk Stage II and Stage III Melanoma
Faculty: Alexander C.J van Akkooi, MD, PhD, MSc, FRACS (he/him/his) – Melanoma Institute of Australia
4:31 PM - 4:57 PM MST

Discussion with Investigators of Implications of these Stage II and III Trials on Surgical De-escalation and Tailored Adjuvant Treatment
Faculty: Alexander C.J van Akkooi, MD, PhD, MSc, FRACS (he/him/his) – Melanoma Institute of Australia
Faculty: Giorgos C. Karakousis, MD (he/him/his) – Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System