The Division of Surgical Oncology’s nationally recognized melanoma and sarcoma programs has generated remarkable growth and innovation over the past three years.
From fiscal year 2023 to 2025, annual melanoma and sarcoma surgeries performed by Ohio State’s surgical oncologists increased from 300 to 352 – a 17% growth. Total annual clinic visits rose from 9,731 to 12,600 (a 29% increase), and new patient volume surged from 1,370 to 1,862 – a 36% growth. These milestones reflect the team’s unwavering commitment to patient care, collaboration and excellent clinical outcomes.
“Our program is dedicated to enhancing the quality and duration of life for patients diagnosed with melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and other skin cancers,” says Carlo Contreras, MD, associate clinical professor of Surgery and director, melanoma sarcoma surgical oncology program. “We accomplish this by understanding each patient’s treatment goals and leveraging the expertise of our multidisciplinary team.”
The surgical team treats more than 10 types of skin cancer, often involving surgical removal and lymph node assessment to address potential spread.
“Innovation is central to our program’s approach,” Dr. Contreras says. “We are among the few centers nationwide offering isolated limb infusion, allowing patients with advanced skin and soft tissue cancers to avoid amputation.”
The team also delivers percutaneous hepatic perfusion – a form of chemotherapy administered directly to the liver – for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma, a challenging cancer that standard treatments often fail to address. For those whose melanoma hasn’t responded to standard regimens, adoptive cell therapy using tumor infiltrating lymphocytes is available.
In early 2025, the program was recognized with the Delcath Center of Excellence award for expertise, clinical volume and research in liver-directed therapy for metastatic uveal melanoma. In research, Joal Beane, MD, associate professor of Surgery in the Division of Surgical Oncology, received a prestigious American Cancer Society grant to advance novel therapies for liposarcoma.
“Our hope is to grow our footprint as the premier destination for skin cancer care,” Dr. Contreras says. “We are committed to investing in clinical trials and supporting our patients with compassion, expertise and the most promising treatments available.”
Our nationally recognized melanoma and sarcoma programs offer advanced, multidisciplinary care for rare and complex cancers – delivering innovative therapies, specialized procedures and expert guidance for even the most challenging cases.