Sarah B. Bateni, M.D., MSW, MAS, an assistant professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology, was recently featured on the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Education Series podcast.
The podcast episode, titled “Conversation Regarding Adjuvant Therapy for Stage II Melanoma,” examined evolving evidence and institutional practices regarding adjuvant systemic therapy for melanoma patients with high-risk stage II disease. Bateni was on the expert panel with Kavita Vakharia, M.D., a surgical oncologist from City of Hope, Nikhil Khushalani, M.D., a medical oncologist at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and James Jakub, M.D., a surgical oncologist at Mayo Clinic Florida.
In the episode, Bateni emphasizes how rapidly evolving data have reshaped the approach to high-risk stage II melanoma. She explains that what was once managed primarily through surgery alone now increasingly involves a nuanced discussion about adjuvant systemic immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a treatment given after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence based on evidence from clinical trials that have demonstrated a reduction in distant recurrence risk for patients with Stage IIB and IIC disease. The decision-making process has become more individualized weighing the oncologic benefit with the potential therapeutic harm.
“Adjuvant therapy for high-risk stage II melanoma has changed significantly in just a few years,” Bateni said. “We now have evidence that allows us to better identify high-risk patients who may benefit from additional treatment after surgery. However, this decision should be individualized based on the potential oncologic benefit and therapeutic harm”
Bateni notes that treatment considerations often include patient comorbidities and the biologic behavior of the disease including risk of distant recurrence. As immunotherapy options continue to advance, many patients who previously had limited options now have access to therapies that may meaningfully impact long-term outcomes.
The panel emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing surgical oncology, medical oncology, dermatology, and pathology to optimize individualized treatment plans for high-risk melanoma. Bateni shared perspectives from her practice at UAB, highlighting how emerging data and national guidelines inform decision-making in offering adjuvant therapy.
A surgical oncologist specializing in the treatment of skin and soft tissue malignancies, Bateni also conducts health services and outcomes research focusing on clinical and patient-reported outcomes in patients with advanced cancer.
Listen to the full episode here.
About the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO)
The Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) is the premier international organization dedicated to advancing the science, education, and practice of surgical oncology. Through global collaboration, research dissemination, and high-impact educational programming, the SSO supports surgeons in delivering the most innovative, evidence-based cancer care. The organization’s Education Series podcast features expert discussions on emerging topics across oncology, providing a platform for thought leaders to share insights that shape clinical practice. Each episode highlights cutting-edge developments designed to improve outcomes for patients with cancer around the world.