Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre |Annual Report 2017–18 MELANOMA & SKIN CANCERS Consultation Outcomes Research & Education Lead: Dr David Gyorki, Complex cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre was rated as the highest priority non-melanoma skin cancer in the consultation process. As the most common skin cancer with metastatic potential, overall cSCC incidence is unknown but it does account for approximately 15 per cent of head and neck cancers, which in the advanced stage require complex multi- disciplinary care. A multidisciplinary cSCC special interest group was convened to establish priorities and identify an opportunity to advance progress in this area. The symposium ‘State of the Art in Complex Cutaneous Phase II Priorities 2017–18 Squamous Cell Carcinoma’ symposium attracted 78 delegates. New research was considered and a range Progressing the Melanoma Grand Challenge of presentation and treatment scenarios presented by • from 2016–17 dermatologists, oncologists and research scientists. The event concluded with case discussions by a panel • Trans-oranisation, multidisciplinary consultag tion representing all disciplines, including pathology. The on issues and priorities in skin cancers other than special interest group met again after the symposium melanoma to consider the outcomes and prioritise action. KEY ACTIVITIES Melanoma Grand Challenge Project Stemming from a competitive ‘pitch’ in early 2017 under former lead, Professor Grant McArthur, this project is a collaboration between Dr Gyorki and Dr Andreas Behren at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI). Using the data and biobank resources of Melanoma Research Victoria, the team is hoping to improve the calculation of the risk of melanoma recurrence in patients with Stage III disease. The collaborating group includes Professor Tony Papenfuss, Head, Computational Biology, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and Head of Bioinformatics and Cancer Genomics Lab at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Dr Victoria Mar, Director of the Victorian Melanoma Service at Alfred Health, and has attracted the active interest of Professor Jeffrey Gershenwald, Chair of the International Staging System for Melanoma. Squamous cell carcinoma photomicrograph With Dr Gyorki as Chief Investigator A, the project has been formulated into a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) project grant ‘IMPRESS: Bringing together multiple disciplines, Immuno-staging for melanoma to accurately predict organisations and perspectives has the risk of relapse after surgery’. Outcome pending at resulted in solid progress on a ‘grand time of publication. challenge’ in melanoma and a high priority non-melanoma skin cancer. 22