Immunotherapy and the MyMelanoma Project

Melanoma used to have almost no effective treatment options. Now? Immunotherapy is changing lives — and Oxford’s Dr. Mark Middleton joins us to unpack the science, the turning points, and the innovations reshaping melanoma care.

In this episode, he reflects on decades of research — from the early trials that taught researchers what not to do, to the breakthroughs in checkpoint inhibition and precision approaches that dramatically improved outcomes. We also dive into MyMelanoma, a nationwide effort gathering real-world patient data to answer questions traditional trials often leave behind.

Takeaways:

• What researchers learned from early immunotherapy trial failures — and how those lessons shaped today’s strategies
• The evolving science behind checkpoint inhibitors and why certain patients respond more durably than others
• How MyMelanoma is uncovering insights on risk, survivorship, lifestyle factors, and real-world outcomes at scale
• The future of melanoma treatment, including biomarkers, combinatorial approaches, and better trial designs