UM discussed between patients, clinicians and researchers at the MPNE rare 2019

The Melanoma Patient’s Network Europe, a member of the UM Cure 2020 consortium, organised last weekend in Berlin their annual meeting on rare melanomas – MPNE rare 2019.

During these three days of intense and fruitful discussion, patients, clinicians and researchers joined efforts to discuss the “state of the art” of ocular melanoma and other rare forms of melanoma, tackling the main barriers to best available care.

MPNE prepared a very rich program ranging from cancer genomics and systems biology of cancer to clinical talks about treatment of the primary tumour or systemic treatment updates. Implementation of precision medicine in rare melanomas, identification of the most common genetic mutations that can be inherited and increase the risk for developing melanoma, and future advanced therapies such as targeting GNAQ/11 mutations and the use of CART cells were some of the most relevant topics. Other highly important non-scientific issues were debated, such as data sharing and trans-border access to clinical trials

UM Cure 2020 actively participated in this meeting. On the first day, Dr. André Valente from Champalimaud Foundation, co-chaired a workshop on “Essential Anatomy” of the eye. On the second day, Dr. Sophie Piperno-Neumann from Institut Curie provided an update on the treatment of metastatic uveal melanoma (UM) and the importance of European Reference Networks, while Dr. Pieter van der Velden from LUMC described his group model to explain driver mutations, mutational sequence leading to UM and genomic alterations associated with metastisation.

Additionally, during the coffee-breaks UM Cure 2020 prepared two posters about biology of cancer and eye anatomy , alongside with anatomical 3D models and the consortium UM Patients’ brochure. Some of the faculty and participants were interviewed to provide future useful information for patients and their advocates.

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