Cutaneous Oncology and Melanoma Program
1305 York Ave., 12th Floor
New York, NY 10065
The Weill Cornell Medicine Cutaneous Oncology Program welcomes referrals for patients with a wide variety of skin cancers, including melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers, such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous angiosarcoma, dermatofibromasarcoma protuberans and all other cutaneous malignancies.
Using the latest advancements in genetic testing and immunotherapy, the Weill Cornell Medicine Cutaneous Oncology Program cares for patients with personalized treatment. Our approach combines precision medicine with compassionate support to promote long-term physical and emotional well-being. Our physicians are nationally recognized leaders in helping patients achieve optimal health.
No two patients are the same — so no two treatment plans are the same.
Why Choose Weill Cornell Medicine for Cutaneous Oncology Treatment?
Individualized, compassionate care: The Weill Cornell Medicine Cutaneous Oncology Program provides comprehensive and compassionate care for patients with melanoma and other types of advanced cutaneous cancers.
When referred to the Cutaneous Oncology Program, our team of experts begins your care with a careful evaluation. Our experts tailor all aspects of your therapy based on your unique condition, long-term goals and other factors.
Our team’s primary goal is your best possible health and wellness. The physicians at our Cutaneous Oncology Program achieve this with personalized, leading care that promotes your health, comfort and emotional well-being.
Multidisciplinary cancer treatment from leading experts: When you choose Weill Cornell Medicine, you have access to our doctors’ depth and breadth of expertise. The Cutaneous Oncology Program at Weill Cornell Medicine collaborates with dermatologists, medical oncologists, hematologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, ophthalmologists, radiologists, pathologists, imaging specialists and other medical professionals.
Weill Cornell Medicine partners with NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the top hospital systems in New York City and the U.S.
Conditions We Treat
“Cutaneous oncology” refers to all cancers that originate in one of the three layers of the skin: the epidermis, dermis or subcutaneous fat layers.
The Weill Cornell Medicine Cutaneous Oncology Program treats all types of cutaneous cancers, including rare and complex cases.
Melanoma: This type of cancer begins when your pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) become abnormal. While less common than other types of skin cancer, melanoma is more serious because it can spread to other parts of the body.
The Cutaneous Oncology Program treats all types of melanoma, including:
● Melanomas that begin on the skin and are either growing deep into the skin or have spread to nearby lymph nodes
● Melanoma of the eyes, including uveal, conjunctival or melanoma found on the eyelid
● Mucosal melanoma, a type of melanoma that occurs in the mucous membranes or moist parts of the body
● Rare or complex melanoma, including melanomas that recur after treatment or spread to other areas of the body
Non-melanoma: This term refers to all other types of skin cancers that are not melanoma. The treatment depends on the specific type of cancer and other factors. Our Program treats all non-melanoma cancers, including:
● Angiosarcoma
Cutaneous lymphomas: Our Cutaneous Oncology Program partners with our leading experts in cutaneous lymphoma diagnosis and treatment to support patients with these cancers. We are proud to be home to leading international experts in both of these disease areas.
Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are rare types of cancer that require careful, expert care. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma begins in the T-cell lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, and can invade skin cells and can spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes.
Cutaneous Oncology Treatment at Weill Cornell Medicine
At Weill Cornell Medicine, our team offers the most advanced and comprehensive skin cancer treatments available. Your physician will develop a personalized plan that may include one or several of these treatment options, as well as discuss the treatments in detail.
Precision medicine, using sophisticated genetic testing: Your genes, environment and lifestyle all affect your health. Weill Cornell Medicine provides genetic tumor testing and targeted therapy when appropriate. Learn more about how we use the most advanced technology to identify potential therapeutic targets to treat your cancer.
The doctors at the Cutaneous Oncology Program will leverage this technology to sequence your entire tumor. This information will help your doctor determine if there are any mutations or genetic vulnerabilities in the cancer — and then customize all treatment.
For example, the BRAF gene mutation may be found in melanoma cancer and can drive the growth and spread of cancer cells. Your doctor may customize your care to include medications and treatments that target this mutation directly.
Surgery: The Cutaneous Oncology Program collaborates closely with the Dermatologic and Mohs Micrographic Surgery Unit and Department of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine to provide expert surgical treatment, when needed, to remove cancerous cells and tissues.
Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy:
Immunotherapy is primarily for patients with melanoma that has a high chance of returning or disease that cannot be removed surgically; this innovative treatment helps boost your natural immune system with medications, cell therapies or specific vaccines. We also offer direct injection of tumors with immunotherapies.
Immunotherapy can be highly effective when combined with other cancer treatments. The Weill Cornell Medicine Cutaneous Oncology Program includes skilled physicians, experienced in immunotherapy treatment for skin cancers.
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) is a specialized form of cellular immunotherapy designed to target cancer cells by leveraging the body’s immune system using specialized cells called T-lymphocytes. Lifileucel (AMTAGVI) is the first FDA-approved cellular therapy for solid tumors. AMTAGVI is a one-time, individualized T-cell therapy approved for patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma that has gotten worse or progressed after treatment with other forms of therapy, including immunotherapy. AMTAGVI works by using patient-specific T cells called TIL cells. When cancer is first detected by the body, the immune system creates TIL cells in an effort to find and destroy the cancer. However, when the cancer progresses, these natural (and unmodified) TIL cells can no longer effectively fight the disease. Building on this natural role that TILs play in the body, AMTAGVI is an innovative therapy that collects unique T cells from a portion of a patient’s tumor and then enhances and expands them in the laboratory. These re-engineered cells are then returned back to the body, specifically designed to combat each person’s unique cancer.
Weill Cornell Medicine, in partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, is one of the first centers with this treatment available in New York City and the United States. Each year, approximately 100,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with melanoma of the skin, and it is fatal for approximately 10% of those diagnosed, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In collaboration with colleagues in the Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program, the Weill Cornell Medicine Cutaneous Oncology and Melanoma Program physicians are proud to offer this treatment to patients with melanoma.
Chemotherapy: Your doctor will determine the most appropriate anti-cancer chemotherapy medication for your treatment. Skin cancers can be treated with topical chemotherapy, a gel that is applied to the skin. Systemic chemotherapy may be taken by mouth (a pill) or through an infusion.
Radiation: The Cutaneous Oncology Program works directly with the Department of Radiation Oncology to create the best strategy for targeting your cancer with radiation therapy.
Radiation treatment uses higher energy rays to shrink or destroy cancer cells. There are many different types of radiation treatment. Your doctor will determine the best options for your specific condition and lessen any uncomfortable side effects. Our team prioritizes your comfort and well-being throughout all radiation treatment.
Interventional Radiology: The Cutaneous Oncology Program partners with interventional radiology to provide tumor-directed therapy either as a standard of care treatment or as part of a clinical trial. These therapies can include radiation beads, radiofrequency ablation (microwaving tumors), and direct injection of immunotherapy or chemotherapy into tumors.
Commitment to your comfort, convenience and well-being: All providers at the Cutaneous Oncology Program are dedicated to your comfort, as well as those caring for you. All treatment takes place in beautiful, comfortable and private rooms in our state-of-the-art infusion center. Our team provides scheduling assistance and care coordination to help you manage appointments and other logistics associated with care.
You will also have access to the Weill Cornell Medicine Integrative Health and Wellbeing Program for emotional and physical support. You will also benefit from our network of supportive services, including access to experts in nutrition, social work and psychiatry.
Make an Appointment
Contact the Cutaneous Oncology Program: Our team is here to help ensure the process of scheduling an appointment is as straightforward as possible. When you call our office, our team will help you make an appointment and begin transferring any prior medical records from other care teams.
Whether you visit us virtually through a video visit or you see us in person, you can be assured that we will deliver the highest standards of care with compassion. Learn more about our safety measures and the changes we’ve made to enhance your patient experience.
The Cutaneous Oncology Program can be reached at (646) 962-6444.
Schedule a skin check with our nationally recognized dermatologists: With a yearly skin cancer check, Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Dermatology will help you prevent skin cancer, keep your skin as healthy as possible and detect any signs of cancer as soon as possible.
Meet Our Physicians
The physicians at the Weill Cornell Medicine Cutaneous Oncology Program offer patients the highest level of safety and care. As a top-ranked academic medical center, you have access to our extensive network of specialists who provide seamless care throughout your treatment — to promote long-term physical and mental health.
