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SYSF Webinar: Treatment Options for Melanoma Patients in the Adjuvant Setting

Join us for this free webinar, which reviews the latest news and clinical data related to melanoma treatment in the adjuvant setting, as presented in the 2018 conference season.

‘Adjuvant’ refers to patients with a stage II or stage III diagnosis. The majority of adjuvant patients typically undergo surgery to have their tumour(s) removed, but are not given immunotherapy or targeted therapy to prevent recurrence of the disease despite a known high-risk of relapse and mortality. Melanoma is an aggressive cancer; stage III melanoma means the cancer has spread from skin cells into the lymphatic system, and poses a dangerous risk for spread to organs, which is what depicts a stage IV diagnosis.

Dr. Claveau shares his key insights into what the landscape of adjuvant melanoma immuno-oncology treatment looks like for the near future in Canada. Dr. Adrian Gunaratne details the science behind targeted therapy and what is coming for Canadian melanoma patients in the adjuvant setting with a BRAF positive mutation. The discussion continues with a patient and a caregiver both having had treatment access challenges in the adjuvant melanoma setting, and how their experiences impacted their lives and that of their families.

Presenters:

  • Dr. Joel Claveau, Medical Oncologist, Hotel-Dieu de Quebec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC
  • Adrian Gunaratne, PhD, Medical Science Liaison – Solid Tumors, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada
  • Natalie Richardson, Adjuvant Melanoma Patient, Managing Director, Save Your Skin Foundation
  • Eyyub Hajiyev, Caregiver to a loved one recently diagnosed with melanoma in the adjuvant setting

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National Post: Therapeutic Spotlight on Immuno-Oncology

On September 26, 2018, you may have seen a special insert in the paper version of the National Post across the country, featuring eight pages of informative articles about immunotherapy, an innovative treatment proving successful in several cancer indications.  This special content is the result of a collaboration between sponsoring funders, patient group representatives, and the folks at a group called Patient Diaries.  Over the years, Patient Diaries has coordinated several series such as this, raising awareness of various diseases and their effective treatments.                                                        This time they chose to highlight Immuno-Oncology.

Researchers and clinicians treating metastatic melanoma have been seeing success with these therapies for about ten years, but the growing use of and experimentation with them in recent years has been the topic of discussion at countless oncology conferences and treatment centres around the world.  In fact, just last month the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo for their discovery of cancer therapy by inhibition of negative immune regulation: immunotherapy.

Save Your Skin Foundation openly discusses the need for access to these treatments by melanoma patients across Canada, and we jumped on the opportunity to be the primary patient group sponsor of this feature, sharing our collective patient experience with these therapies. On page six of the insert there was an article in which both Kathy Barnard and Natalie Richardson of Save Your Skin were interviewed.  We were also given half a page to display informative anecdotes about ourselves and raise awareness of our ongoing support of skin cancer patients.

In addition to the paper version of the Therapeutic Spotlight, a digital space has been placed on the National Post website.  SYSF awareness spots and our patient video from May 2018 can be seen throughout the Immuno-Oncology board – please feel free to take a look around.  There are additional informative articles about innovative treatments for lung cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer.

There is also a blog written by Natalie Richardson, melanoma survivor and Managing Director of SYSF, discussing the barriers to treatment access that many Canadian patients face.  Click here to read the blog: Cancer Patients Receive Unequal Treatment Depending on Stage or Postal Code

To see what else SYSF is talking about, click here to visit our MEDIA page!

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Adjuvant Patient Survey: here is the full report!

In September 2018, Save Your Skin Foundation (SYSF) conducted an anonymous survey of melanoma patients in the adjuvant setting (diagnosed at a stage lesser than stage IV).  This survey, titled “Melanoma Treatments in the Adjuvant Setting,” was open globally, and we received responses from all over Canada as well as from the United States, New Zealand, and Australia.

The survey consisted of 28 questions, which ranged between multiple choice, multi-selection, and write-in, and participants had the option to skip any question. The goal of the survey was to assess the impact melanoma has on patients and their families and caregivers, and get a picture of the treatment plan of the average melanoma patient, what treatment access limitations they have encountered, and what they look for in potential treatment options.

The responses to this survey were used to inform SYSF submissions to provide direct patient feedback as treatment recommendations to pCODR and INESSS.  We provided these submissions with all of the patient comments to support the message that melanoma patients in the adjuvant setting need access to immuno-oncology treatments to prevent their disease from growing into a stage IV diagnosis.

Thank you to all participants who took the time and care to share their perspectives.  We have every hope that the drugs in the pipeline for adjuvant will be approved in every province and territory in Canada.

To read the full Survey Report, please click HERE To request any additional information about the survey please feel free to email info@saveyourskin.ca

 

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Introducing “Redefining Cancer Treatment” by Merck

We are excited to announce that one of our partners, Merck, has launched an informative new website dedicated to educating the public about immuno-oncology. 

“Redefining Cancer Treatment” is an apt title for the topic: what is cancer immunotherapy, and how does it work, exactly? These questions are answered in a few pages and a downloadable infographic, all in language that is easy for patients and their caregivers to understand.

RedefiningCancerTreatment.ca discusses two main cancer types which are showing response to immuno-oncology treatments – Melanoma skin cancer, and Non-small cell lung cancer. It also has a page which lists all of the treatments currently available in Canada for the treatment of these diseases.  This example of collaboration and transparency is an excellent representation of the innovative attitude it takes for work in a field such as this to develop and, ultimately, save lives.

To view the website click here: RedefiningCancerTreatment.ca     |    To view the two-page infographic please click here: Cancer Treatment at a Glance

Merck also has an interactive website listing enrolling clinical trials for their treatments, in cancer and in other indications.  Click HERE to view the site and search for your disease type: Merck Clinical Trials

 

We are grateful that Merck has taken this initiative to better support patients, and we applaud their efforts.  Redefining Cancer Treatment is a valuable resource and we hope to share this website far and wide, help to increase patients’ awareness of immuno-oncology and the options they may have when faced by melanoma skin cancer.

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pre-DPPS Webinar – Health Care Systems in Canada: Where We Are Now

In advance of the upcoming Drug Pricing Policy Summit in Toronto in November, you are invited to join the webinar: Health Care Systems in Canada: Where We Are Now on Wednesday, October 24th from 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET.

This webinar will provide a broad overview of Canada’s drug approval process: Health Canada, pCPA, CADTH and PMPRB with the objective of updating participants on each of the organization’s roles and current initiatives in making drugs available to Canadians.

This is a primer for participants attending the November 13-14 2018 Drug Pricing Policy Summit: Patients Redefining Health Care and for others who would like to have a review of these systems for their interest.

To register for this free webinar, please CLICK HERE.

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SYSF Teams up with La Roche-Posay Canada at OneWalk Toronto 2018

Last weekend I went for a 15 kilometre walk— as in, 15 kilometres all at once. Two short years ago I could not have done that, being in recovery from surgeries and treatment for advanced melanoma, I was not physically or psychologically capable of such a feat. This year however, I was grateful to walk 15 kilometres (in 3.25 hours!) alongside a team dedicated to raising funds for melanoma research at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto.

I was motivated to join this team this past spring, when our new sponsor La Roche-Posay Canada told me they were doing the OneWalk Toronto 2018, and suggested perhaps I could join them as a representative of melanoma survivors and Save Your Skin Foundation (SYSF).  I was thrilled but also anxious about this idea – could I really do it?

We each had a fund-raising goal and friendly instructions to meet at Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto on Saturday September 8, 2018 at 7:30am. Being as I was a guest on the team I didn’t have to do any of the heavy lifting, but I was there early enough to witness the hard-working team at La Roche-Posay (LRP) setting up, distributing sunscreen samples, and greeting walkers with encouraging smiles and high-fives.

I was thrilled to meet some of the folks I had been speaking or emailing with for months – it was so great to put faces with names. I had done events with LRP in the past, but this was a large local project in which SYSF and I both feel quite invested.

La Roche-Posay, with their sunscreen line, is a huge proponent of melanoma prevention, and the partnership we were demonstrating at the OneWalk was that of awareness and education. LRP is also a sponsor of the OneWalk Toronto event and were obviously enthusiastic about being able to bring awareness to sun safety and skin cancer prevention to all participants. They had a shade tent and sunscreen samples and tester bar, as well as their new “My UV Patch.”

My initiation into the team that morning was the presentation of my name tag and lanyard for the walk. I did not expect the rush of emotion when my new friend put my lanyard on me – it was a special coloured one, reserved for the cancer survivors of the crowd.

Not having participated in the OneWalk before, I was unexpectedly dazzled by the supportive community and encouragement to cancer patients and survivors at the event. Everyone everywhere was respectful of and very loving to those of us with the rainbow lanyards.

At one point during the opening ceremonies, the MC asked everyone with a rainbow lanyard to remain standing, and everyone else to kneel on one knee. Our team happened to be at the front near the stage, so when this happened I was glad I had my back to most of the hundreds of people in the square all around me – my tears were flowing at this point – I was so overwhelmed I almost got down on one knee too. I was incredibly humbled by the honour I felt by this moment of silence in cancer survivors’ memory and support.

Team LRP raised over $20 000 for Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, a decent portion of the total raised $4.7 million by 3200 walkers from all over Canada. I could clearly see why the event is so successful; it is very well organized, and cancer patient care is the obvious topic at hand. Princess Margaret Cancer Centre staff and supporters made speeches in the opening ceremonies, and a couple of the Research Team Leads also got up on stage to address the crowd. Overall, it was a fabulous representation of this centre, which happens to be one of the top five in the world for cancer care research and innovation.

Even one of our Medical Oncologist friends and SYSF Medical Advisory Board members from PMH was present – he had done the Friday evening NightWalk – but he came after lunch Saturday to meet with the La Roche-Posay team. I am thrilled to report I got a hug from him; I couldn’t stop more tears when he thanked me for participating in the event. It’s not very often I get to thank him in person for all that the HE does for melanoma patients like me.

I’d like to extend huge thanks to my new friends from Team La Roche-Posay Canada, not only for their warm welcome and hard work at OneWalk Toronto 2018, but also for their dedication to skin cancer prevention and awareness all year-round. I look forward to helping facilitate the initiatives Save Your Skin Foundation and La Roche-Posay will be working on together – stay tuned for updates!

Team LRP with Toronto Mayor John Tory

Team LRP at the Finish!

 

By Natalie Richardson,

Metastatic melanoma survivor and advocate, Managing Director, Save Your Skin Foundation

 

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SYSF Survey! Melanoma Treatments for Adjuvant Patients

Save Your Skin has the opportunity to submit patient feedback to the pCODR process for the two treatments coming to the Adjuvant setting for Melanoma patients in Canada.  To learn more about the drug approval process and our involvement as a patient representation group, please visit our page: “Let’s Chat: Patient Submissions and Discussion

We believe the ability of stage I, II, and II melanoma patients to receive innovative treatments is key to survival, and to the reduction of progression to stage IV disease.

To inform our upcoming submission, we have created a short survey and request that any and all patients touched by melanoma complete the survey to have their voices heard.  This survey is open globally, to all stage melanoma patients at any point in their journey; but we request that IF you are a metastatic patient taking the survey, but were diagnosed at stage 1, 2 or 3 could you please take some time to remember back to those days and fill in what you can in the survey pertaining to those times.  Were you offered a treatment, were you advised to “wait and watch” and what were those times like for you and your family.

This anonymous survey is now closed.  We thank all who shared their time and experience in responding to the survey.  Stay tuned for news of our completed submission to pCODR and INESSS.

If you have any questions or feedback about this topic or the survey itself, please email info@saveyourskin.ca

Thank you! 

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Calling all STAGE I, II & III MELANOMA PATIENTS in Canada!

Please participate in this survey regarding preferences for adjuvant treatment of melanoma in Canada. The ANONYMOUS SURVEY will require approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Sponsored by Novartis, the information in this study may be included in research publications and submissions to agencies that evaluate and make recommendations regarding reimbursement of treatments for patients in Canada.

To participate, please CLICK HERE. The survey will remain open for completion until midnight (EST) on Friday, August 17, 2018.

 

In order to qualify for participation, you must (1) currently reside in Canada, (2) have a current diagnosis of local or regional melanoma (Stage I, II, or III), and (3) be at least 18 years of age. Individuals who reside outside of Canada, do not have melanoma or currently have metastatic melanoma (Stage IV), or are younger than 18 years of age are not eligible to participate.

If you have any questions, you may contact the study manager or the sponsor directly using the contact information below: 

Study Manager Study Sponsor

Daniel Stellato, BS

Research Analyst

Policy Analysis Inc. (PAI)

Four Davis Court

Brookline, MA 02445

USA

Phone: 617-232-4400

Email: dsetllato@pai2.com

 

Marroon Thabane, PhD

Manager, Health Economics and Outcomes Research

Oncology Business Unit

Novartis Pharmaceuticals

385 Bouchard Blvd.

Dorval, Quebec H9S 1A9  CANADA

Phone: 905-512-3755

Email: marroon.thabane@novartis.com

 

About Policy Analysis Inc. (PAI)

PAI is a health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) organization providing services to the global biopharmaceutical industry located in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA (https://www.pai2.com).

About Novartis

Novartis is a global healthcare company that provides solutions to address the evolving needs of patients worldwide (https://www.novartis.ca/en).

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Take the All.Can Patient Survey in Canada

Can you help to shape the future of cancer care? Check out this patient survey launched in Canada.

In healthcare, inefficiency is often caused by neglecting to focus on what matters most to patients. A new international patient survey is gathering insights on inefficiencies in cancer care and is asking Canadian cancer patients (and their carers) to share their thoughts and experiences on where inefficiencies occur, and how cancer care could be improved. Findings will be revealed later this year and used to inform policy discussions on improving cancer care for all.

The survey is being administered by All.Can (www.all-can.org), an international multi-stakeholder policy initiative focused on improving efficiency in cancer care. Please share your thoughts, to ensure the patient voice can be at the heart of cancer care. #PatientsAllCan

For more information and to complete the survey for Canada or other countries, visit: http://patientsurvey.all-can.org

As a member of All.Can International, Save Your Skin Foundation has been working closely with the administrators of this survey, and is here to support you.  If you would like further information or need help with the survey or subsequent reporting of survey responses, please contact us at info@saveyourskin.ca

Thank you!

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Best of ASCO: Montréal!

Updated 3-August-2018: Click HERE to find our full report from ASCO 2018!

 

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While we’re finishing up our report on the ASCO Annual Meeting 2018 in Chicago, we’d like to share with you some resources about trials that were discussed at an ASCO satellite meeting: Best of ASCO 2018 Montréal, which took place in Montréal, QC on June 19th, 2018. From 7:50-8:20 pm, Dr. Wilson Miller (McGill) gave a talk entitled “Best of Melanoma,” which highlighted some of the notable melanoma studies discussed at the ASCO annual meeting.

For those interested in more ASCO recaps, Oncology Education has posted video resources, including Dr. Jeffrey Weber (NYU) discussing Checkmate 238, Dr. Max Madu (Netherlands Cancer Institute) on the 8th AJCC melanoma staging system, and a roundtable discussion of ASCO highlights with Dr. Marcus Butler (Princess Margaret Cancer Centre), Dr. John Walker (Alberta Cancer Centre), and Dr. Jason Luke (University of Chicago). These videos are available here, though you will need to register for the Oncology Education website to view them.

Below is a list of some of the trials Dr. Miller presented, with links to the ASCO abstracts for further reading:

 

Abstract number 9501: “Final analysis of DeCOG-SLT trial: Survival outcomes of complete lymph node dissection in melanoma patients with positive sentinel node.”

Presented at ASCO Annual Meeting, Chicago, in the Melanoma/Skin Cancers Oral Abstract Session (Monday, June 4, 8:00-11:00 AM).

Authors: Ulrike M. Leiter et al.

Retrieved from: http://abstracts.asco.org/214/AbstView_214_216115.html

The DeCOG-SLT trial assessed whether complete lymph node dissection can result in increased survival compared with observation in patients with positive sentinel node biopsy in a randomized phase III trial. The update presented at ASCO 2018 comes three years after the inclusion of the last patient. After the median 72-month follow-up time, there seemed to be no survival benefit in patients with positive sentinel node biopsy with complete lymph node dissection, compared to observation. More information about the methods and results of the study can be found at the link above.

 

Abstract number 9503: “4-year Survival and Outcomes After Cessation of Pembrolizumab (pembro) after 2-years in Patients (pts) with Ipilimumab (ipi)-naive Advanced Melanoma in KEYNOTE-006 [NCT01866319]”

Presented at ASCO Annual Meeting, Chicago, in the Melanoma/Skin Cancers Oral Abstract Session (Monday, June 4, 8:00-11:00 AM).

Authors: Georgina V. Long et al.

Retrieved from: http://abstracts.asco.org/214/AbstView_214_222303.html.

The KEYNOTE-006, or NTO1866319, sought to establish the efficacy of pembrolizumab over ipilimumab in advanced melanoma. The data includes four year outcomes, long term data for patients who have completed two years of pembro, and data for second course. The results suggest that pembrolizumab can provide durable anti-tumour activity in treatment-naive or previously treated patients. 86% of the patients who had completed two years of pembro were progression free at 20 months. The data suggests that pembro is safe, and can be used as a second-course treatment to provide additional anti-tumour activity. For more information, see the link above.

 

Abstract number 9594: “Assessing the Value of Nivolumab (NIVO) versus Placebo (PBO) and Ipilimumab (IPI) as Adjuvant Therapy for Resected Melanoma [EORTC 18071]

Presented at ASCO Annual Meeting, Chicago, in the Melanoma/Skin Cancers Oral Abstract Session (Monday, June 4, 8:00-11:00 AM).

Authors: Morganna Louise Freeman et al.

Retrieved from: http://abstracts.asco.org/214/AbstView_214_220221.html.

This study assessed the cost of cancer therapies in the context of clinical benefits. Data from CheckMate 238 and EORTC 18071 (nivolumab) was compared to placebo and ipilimumab in the adjuvant setting for patients with resected melanoma was used to consider the cost for each recurrence-free life month (RFLM) and associated medical costs. They found that nivo has a lower medical cost per RFLM than both placebo and ipi in patients with resected IIIB and IIIC cutaneous melanoma, and has superior drug costs per RFLM relative to placebo and ipi over eighteen months. Data suggests that follow-up will continue to determine the cost-effectiveness of adjuvant NIVO. For methods, results, and outcome measures, see the link above.

 

Abstract number 9502: “Adjuvant Therapy with Nivolumab (NIVO) versus Ipilimumab (IPI) After Complete Resection of Stage III/IV Melanoma: Updated Results from a Phase III Trial (CheckMate 238)”

Presented at ASCO Annual Meeting, Chicago, in the Melanoma/Skin Cancers Oral Abstract Session (Monday, June 4, 8:00-11:00 AM).

Authors: Jeffrey S. Weber et al.

Retrieved from: http://abstracts.asco.org/214/AbstView_214_214567.html.

With a minimum follow-up of 18 months, the initial report data from the CheckMate 238 trial demonstrated that nivolumab had longer recurrence-free survival over ipilimumab in patients with resected stage III or IV melanoma. At ASCO, phase III data with an additional six months of follow-up was reported. With this extended follow-up, nivo continued to demonstrated a sustained benefit versus ipi for patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma at a high risk of recurrence, PD-L1 expression, or BRAF mutation. More information can be retrieved at the link above.

 

Abstract number 9514: “Phase II Trial of Pembrolizumab (pembro) plus 1 mg/kg Ipilimumab (ipi) Immediately Following Progression on Anti-PD-1 Ab in Melanoma (mel)”

Presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting 2018, Chicago, in the Melanoma/Skin Cancer Poster Session (Monday, June 4, 1:15-4:45 PM).

Authors: Daniel Olsen et al.

Retrieved from: http://abstracts.asco.org/214/AbstView_214_215997.html.

This study sought to examine the role of the immunotherapy anti-PD-1 + CTLA-4 combination after the first line anti-PD-1. They are reporting the first potential data examining pembrolizumab + low dose ipilimumab following progression on anti-PD-1. The results suggest that low dose ipi + pembro is tolerable and has anti-tumour activity in melanoma patients who have progressed on an anti-PD-1 immediately prior. For more information on this abstract and ongoing trial, see the link above.

 

Abstract number 9542: “BRAF/MEK Inhibition in Melanoma Patients with Rare BRAF Mutations”

Presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting 2018, Chicago, in the Melanoma/Skin Cancer Poster Session (Monday, June 4, 1:15-4:45 PM).

Authors: Jessica Cecile Hassel et al.

Retrieved from: http://abstracts.asco.org/214/AbstView_214_226845.html.

This study uncovered efficacy data for BRAF/MEK inhibition, which is standard care for patients with BRAF V600E/K mutated melanoma. The results suggest that patients with tate BRAF mutations often respond to targeted therapy. Less likely to respond to BRAFi monotherapy are patients with non-V600 mutations, but MEKi as monotherapy or combined with BRAFi seems more promising for these patients. For more information, including a data breakdown, see the link above.

 

We hope this information was interesting and helpful– stay tuned to our social media channels for study news, and our upcoming ASCO Annual Meeting 2018 report!

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