Journal of Cutaneous Oncology

Perspectives on the Science

Overview

In Perspectives on the Science, we provide commentary on publications reviewed in our multi-institutional SoCO Journal Club. The comments in each article represent the views of the authors of that Perspectives on the Science piece and do not necessarily represent the views of other members of SoCO or affiliated institutions.

Volume 4, Issue 2

Perspectives on the Science
Local Recurrence After Excision of Merkel Cell Carcinoma: What Do We Actually Know, and What Should We Do Next?

This Perspectives on the Science article summarizes a multidisciplinary Society of Cutaneous Oncology Journal Club discussion of Kavanagh et al., Local Recurrence Following Complete Surgical Excision of Primary Merkel Cell Carcinoma. The discussion examines uncertainty in local recurrence risk after margin-negative excision, variation in postoperative radiation therapy practice, and future evidence-generation approaches that integrate curated multi-institutional data, causal inference, and probabilistic modeling to support decision-making under uncertainty.

Jul 16, 2026

David Michael Miller, MD, PhD, Kevin Scott Emerick, MD, Howard Lane Kaufman, MD, Aubriana M. McEvoy, MD, MS, Lisa Zaba, MD, PhD, Ajay Sharma, MD, Adewunmi Adelaja, MD, PhD, Ann W. Silk, MD, Nikhil I. Khushalani, MD, Isaac Brownell, MD, PhD, Daniel G. Coit, MD, Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD, Vernon K Sondak, MD

Volume 3, Issue 2

Perspectives on the Science
Evolving Standards for Resected High-Risk CSCC: Integrating Insights from C-POST and KEYNOTE-630

This perspective summarizes a multidisciplinary discussion of the C-POST trial, which demonstrated improved disease-free survival with adjuvant cemiplimab in patients with resected high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Participants reflected on evolving practice patterns and considered the contrasting futility outcome of adjuvant pembrolizumab in the KEYNOTE-630 study. To help explore potential reasons for these divergent results, this piece incorporates reconstructed survival data—estimates derived from published Kaplan-Meier curves in the absence of individual patient data. The discussion underscores both the enthusiasm and the remaining uncertainty surrounding adjuvant immunotherapy in CSCC.

David Michael Miller, MD, PhD, Vishal Anil Patel, MD, Vernon Keith Sondak, MD, Vatche Tchekmedyian, MD, Ross David Merkin, MD, Isaac Brownell, MD, PhD, Reed E. Drews, MD, Sameer Gupta MD, Nikhil I. Khushalani, MD, Paul T. Nghiem, MD, PhD, Howard Lane Kaufman MD, Kevin Scott Emerick MD

Volume 3, Issue 1

Perspectives on the Science
Dual Checkpoint Blockade in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Lessons from CheckMate 358 and the Questions That Remain

A multidisciplinary summary and perspective on the CheckMate 358 trial in advanced Merkel cell carcinoma, exploring the role of dual checkpoint blockade, challenges of trial interpretation, real-world practice patterns, and evolving views on therapeutic intent and long-term outcomes.

Jun 14, 2025

David Michael Miller, MD, PhD, Vernon Keith Sondak, MD, Sunandana Chandra, MD, Vatche Tchekmedyian, MD, Ryan J. Sullivan, MD, Ross David Merkin, MD, Vishal Anil Patel, MD, Adewole S. Adamson, MD, MPP, Isaac Brownell, MD, PhD, Reed E. Drews, MD, Nikhil I. Khushalani, MD, Shailender Bhatia, MD, Paul T. Nghiem, MD, PhD

Perspectives on the Science
The Evolving Role of ctDNA in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Challenges and Opportunities

This perspective discusses the evolving role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the management of Merkel Cell Carcinoma, highlighting findings from a recent multicenter study and insights from a multi-institutional Journal Club. Key opportunities and challenges related to ctDNA’s use in surveillance and treatment decision-making are explored.

Apr 2, 2025

David Michael Miller, MD, PhD, Vernon Keith Sondak MD, Sunandana Chandra MD, Kenneth Y Tsai MD, PhD, Howard Lane Kaufman MD, Sameer Gupta MD, Isaac Brownell MD, PhD, Yoshine Saito, Ann W. Silk MD, Manisha Thakuria MD, Paul Nghiem MD, PhD

Perspectives on the Science
Comparing First-Line Immunotherapy in Advanced Melanoma: No Clear Winner?

A JoCO Perspectives on the Science article discussing first-line immunotherapy options in advanced melanoma and the challenges of interpreting cross-trial and indirect comparisons.

Feb 15, 2025

Yoshine Saito, David Michael Miller MD, PhD, Isaac Brownell MD, PhD

Volume 2, Issue 1

Perspectives on the Science
Perspectives on Medical Aid in Dying: A Multifaceted Ethical Discussion

In this Perspectives on the Science piece, we reflect on the complex ethical considerations surrounding Medical Aid in Dying, integrating insights from a recent multi-institutional journal club discussion.

Mar 1, 2024

David Michael Miller MD, PhD, Isaac Brownell MD, PhD, Vatche Tchekmedyian MD, Vishal Anil Patel MD, Howard Lane Kaufman MD, Kevin Scott Emerick MD

Perspectives on the Science
Imaging Surveillance for Stage III Melanoma: Should We Be Stalkers or Casual Observers?

In this Perspectives on the Science piece, we reflect on the role of surveillance imaging for patients with high-risk melanoma.

Feb 14, 2024

Kevin Scott Emerick MD, David Michael Miller MD, PhD

Perspectives on the Science
A Closer Look: Evaluating Mohs Surgery’s Role in the Treatment of Invasive Melanoma of the Head and Neck

In this Perspectives on the Science piece, we reflect on the implications of the recently conducted multicenter study on the treatment of invasive head and neck melanoma using Mohs micrographic surgery.

Jan 24, 2024

Lauren Ching, Jennifer Strong, Truelian Lee, Howard Lane Kaufman MD, Kevin Scott Emerick MD, Emily Y. Kim, Vishal Anil Patel MD, Isaac Brownell MD, PhD, Kritika Singh, Victor A. Neel MD, PhD, David Michael Miller MD, PhD, Sameer Gupta MD

Volume 1, Issue 2

Perspectives on the Science
Adjuvant anti-PD-1 for Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Ready for the Clinic?

In this Perspectives on the Science piece we reflect on the recently published ADMEC-O trial.

Sep 11, 2023

David Michael Miller MD, PhD, Jennifer Strong, Kevin Scott Emerick MD, Sameer Gupta MD, Ann W Silk MD, Isaac Brownell MD, PhD

Perspectives on the Science
To Screen or Not To Screen, That is the Question

In this Perspectives on the Science piece we reflect on the impact of the recent USPSTF recommendation statement on skin cancer screening.

Jul 30, 2023

Truelian Lee, David Michael Miller MD, PhD, Howard Lane Kaufman MD, Kevin Scott Emerick MD, Sameer Gupta MD, Laura K Ferris MD, PhD

Volume 1, Issue 1

Perspectives on the Science
Immunotherapy and Cardiovascular Health - A Cause for Concern?

In this Perspectives on the Science piece we reflect on the impact of ‘Association Between Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors With Cardiovascular Events and Atherosclerotic Plaque’ by Drobni et al.

May 1, 2023

David Michael Miller, Laura K. Ferris, Sameer Gupta, Isaac Brownell, Sophia Z. Shalhout

Perioperative Immunotherapy for High-Risk Resectable Melanoma - A New Standard?

In this Perspectives on the Science piece we reflect on the impact of the recently published SWOG S1801 trial.

Apr 15, 2023

Serena Vilasi, David Michael Miller MD, PhD, Howard Lane Kaufman MD, Kevin Scott Emerick, Sophia Zaki Shalhout PhD, Emily Y Kim, Vishal Anil Patel MD, Khalid Garmen, Sameer Gupta MD, Isaac Brownel MD, PhD

Skin Cancer Chemoprevention for Transplant Recipients - The Search Continues

In this Perspectives on the Science piece, we reflect on the impact of the recently published ONTRANS trial.

Mar 22, 2023

Howard Lane Kaufman MD, Vishal Anil Patel MD, Sophia Zaki Shalhout PhD, Sameer Gupta MD, Sonia Cohen MD, PhD, Isaac Brownell MD, PhD, David Michael Miller MD, PhD

Lacking Overall IMspiration for Triplet Therapy in Melanoma? A Review of the Interim Analysis of IMspire150.

In this Perspectives on the Science piece, we reflect on the impact of the recently published article by Ascierto et al. in Lancet Oncology that provides interim results from IMspire150.

Feb 4, 2023

David Michael Miller MD, PhD, Kevin Scott Emerick MD, Vishal Anil Patel MD, Sonia Cohen MD, PhD, Isaac Brownell MD, PhD, Donald P. Lawrence MD

Perspectives on the Science
Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte Therapy for Advanced Melanoma: Ready for Prime Time?

In this Perspectives on the Science piece, we reflect on the impact of the recently published article “Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte Therapy or Ipilimumab in Advanced Melanoma”.

Jan 9, 2023

Emily Y Kim, Sophia Zaki Shalhout PhD, Howard Lane Kaufman MD, Kevin Scott Emerick MD, Vishal Anil Patel MD, Khalid Garmen MD, PhD, Isaac Brownell MD, PhD, David Michael Miller MD, PhD

Perspectives on the Science
Neoadjuvant Nivo/Rela for Resectable Melanoma

In this Perspectives on the Science piece we reflect on the impact of the recently published article Neoadjuvant relatlimab and nivolumab in resectable melanoma.

Dec 5, 2022

David Michael Miller MD, PhD, Howard Lane Kaufman, Kevin Scott Emerick MD, Justine V. Cohen MD, Emily Y. Kim, Sophia Zaki Shalhout PhD.

Perspectives on the Science
Ipi/Nivo for Advanced MCC

In this Perspectives on the Science piece we reflect on the impact of the recently published article “Combined Nivolumab and Ipilimumab with or without Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Advanced Merkel cell carcinoma - A Randomised, Open Label, Phase 2 Trial”.

Nov 21, 2022

Shalhout, Sophia Z., Cohen, Justine V., Garmen, Khalid, Kim, Emily Y., Cohen, Sonia, Miller, David M.

Perspectives on the Science
Neoadjuvant ICI for Resectable CSCC

In this Perspectives on the Science piece we reflect on the impact of the recently published article “Neoadjuvant Cemiplimab for Stage II to IV Cutaneous Squamous-Cell Carcinoma”.

Nov 8, 2022

Miller, David M., Patel, Vishal A., Cohen, Justine V., Garmen, Khalid, Shalhout, Sophia Z.