Matthew Perez, MD

Cancer Focus:
Basal Cell Carcinoma, Melanoma, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Skin Cancer (Nonmelanoma), Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Dr. Matthew Perez is as an Assistant Member in the Department of Cutaneous Oncology. Dr. Perez received his MD degree from the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. He completed a General Surgery Residency at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, where he also served as Chief Resident. During his residency, he completed a Research Fellowship in the Department of Cutaneous Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center. Dr. Perez also completed a Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida. Dr. Perez’s clinical and research interests focus on the surgical treatment of melanoma and other cutaneous malignancies and evaluating novel treatment strategies (intralesional, regional perfusion, and systemic therapies) for locally advanced or disseminated cutaneous malignancies.

• Dugan MM, Balsay-Patel C, Chin N, Israeli J, Ward KR, Nichols M, Greenbaum S, Fan W, Cruse CW, Harrington M, Neves RI, Gonzalez RJ, Perez MC, Sarnaik AA, Sondak VK, Messina JL, Tarhini AA, Khushalani N, Brohl AS, Markowitz J, Eroglu Z, Karapetyan L, Tsai KY, Zager JS. Recurrence and Survival Outcomes in Patients with Primary Merkel Cell Carcinoma with Positive, Negative, or Not Performed Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Jan.33(1):389-396. Pubmedid: 41168606.
• Karapetyan L, Kuriakose J, Perez MC, Ali JR, Hall MS, Beatty MS, Otteni CD, Xu J, Kalos D, Moran-Segura C, Vieira E, Adams K, Rodriguez-Alfonso L, DiMaggio EC, Bailey H, Pinilla-Ibarz J, Locke FL, Mullinax JE, Chen PL, Song J, Messina JL, Johnson DB, Morgan DS, Eroglu Z, Khushalani NI, Sondak VK, Sarnaik AA, Tsai K, Mulé JJ, Pilon-Thomas S. Case Report: Durable response to tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy in a patient with metastatic melanoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma. Front Immunol. 2025 Nov.16:1718443. Pubmedid: 41333460. Pmcid: PMC12665918.
• Dugan MM, Beekman KE, DePalo DK, Parker LM, Elleson KM, Mullinax JE, Sarnaik AA, Sondak VK, Perez MC, Zager JS. The Use of Radar-Guided Localization to Identify Metastatic Melanoma After Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2025 Jul.32(7):5300-5305. Pubmedid: 40279056.
• Dugan MM, Shannon AB, DePalo DK, Perez MC, Zager JS. Intralesional and Infusional Updates for Metastatic Melanoma. Cancers (Basel). 2024 May.16(11). Pubmedid: 38893078. Pmcid: PMC11171204.
• Shannon AB, Zager JS, Perez MC. Clinical Characteristics and Special Considerations in the Management of Rare Melanoma Subtypes. Cancers (Basel). 2024 Jun.16(13). Pubmedid: 39001457. Pmcid: PMC11240680.
• Dugan MM, Perez MC, Karapetyan L, Zager JS. Combination Atezolizumab, Cobimetinib, and Vemurafenib as a Treatment Option in BRAF V600 Mutation-Positive Melanoma: Patient Selection and Perspectives. Cancer Manag Res. 2024 Jul.16:933-939. Pubmedid: 39099762. Pmcid: PMC11296355.
• Chandrasekhar S, Perez M, Niaz Z, Ekram J, Lal N, Koly S, Cao B, Zager JS, Alomar M. Troponin Elevation in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion for Metastatic Uveal Melanoma. Cancer Control. 2024 Jan.31. Pubmedid: 38605434. Pmcid: PMC11010739.
• Dugan MM, Perez MC, Karapetyan L, Zager JS. Management of acral lentiginous melanoma: current updates and future directions. Front Oncol. 2024 Feb.14:1323933. Pubmedid: 38390259. Pmcid: PMC10882087.
• DePalo DK, Perez MC, Huibers A, Bagge RO, Zager JS. Oncolytic intralesional therapy for metastatic melanoma. Clin Exp Metastas. 2024 Aug.41(4):457-460. Pubmedid: 37556092.
• Huibers A, DePalo DK, Perez MC, Zager JS, Olofsson Bagge R. Isolated hyperthermic perfusions for cutaneous melanoma in-transit metastasis of the limb and uveal melanoma metastasis to the liver. Clin Exp Metastas. 2024 Aug.41(4):447-456. Pubmedid: 37843790. Pmcid: PMC11374821.
• Perez MC, Depalo DK, Zager JS. A safety review of recently approved and late-stage trial treatments for metastatic melanoma: systemic and regional therapies. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2023 Nov.22(9):789-797. Pubmedid: 37551723.
• Broman KK, Hughes TM, Bredbeck BC, Sun J, Kirichenko D, Carr MJ, Sharma A, Bartlett EK, Nijhuis AAG, Thompson JF, Hieken TJ, Kottschade L, Downs J, Gyorki DE, Stahlie E, van Akkooi A, Ollila DW, O'shea K, Song Y, Karakousis G, Moncrieff M, Nobes J, Vetto J, Han D, Hotz M, Farma JM, Deneve JL, Fleming MD, Perez M, Baecher K, Lowe M, Bagge RO, Mattsson J, Lee AY, Berman RS, Chai H, Kroon HM, Teras J, Teras RM, Farrow NE, Beasley GM, Hui JYC, Been L, Kruijff S, Sinco B, Sarnaik AA, Sondak VK, Zager JS, Dossett LA. International Center-Level Variation in Utilization of Completion Lymph Node Dissection and Adjuvant Systemic Therapy for Sentinel Lymph Node-Positive Melanoma at Major Referral Centers. Ann Surg. 2023 May.277(5):e1106-e1115. Pubmedid: 35129464. Pmcid: PMC10097464.
• Perez MC, Kim SC, Egunsola A, Reitz A, Archer-Arroyo K, Smith RN, Williams KN, Udobi K, Sola R, Dente CJ, Cristescu MM, Grant A, Nguyen J. Bleeding From a Hepatic Artery-Portal Vein Fistula After Repair of a Stab Wound to the Liver. Am Surg. 2023 May.89(5):2089-2091. Pubmedid: 34171964.
• Perez MC, Messina JL, Karapetyan L, Neves RI, Sondak VK. Acral melanoma: clinical advances and hope for the future. Clin Adv Hematol Oncol. 2023 Aug.21(8):400-409. Pubmedid: 37530614.
• Castater C, Nguyen J, Perez M, Butler C, Meyer C, Todd SR, Sciarretta J, Smith R, Archer-Arroyo K, Grant A. Approaches to Repair of Penetrating Injuries of the Proximal, Mid, and Distal Esophagus. Am Surg. 2022 Mar.88(3):560-562. Pubmedid: 34693758.
• Broman KK, Hughes T, Dossett L, Sun J, Kirichenko D, Carr MJ, Sharma A, Bartlett EK, Nijhuis AAG, Thompson JF, Hieken TJ, Kottschade L, Downs J, Gyorki DE, Stahlie E, van Akkooi A, Ollila DW, Frank J, Song Y, Karakousis G, Moncrieff M, Nobes J, Vetto J, Han D, Farma JM, Deneve JL, Fleming MD, Perez MC, Lowe MC, Olofsson Bagge R, Mattsson J, Lee AY, Berman RS, Chai H, Kroon HM, Teras J, Teras RM, Farrow NE, Beasley G, Hui JYC, Been L, Kruijff S, Kim Y, Naqvi SMH, Sarnaik AA, Sondak VK, Zager JS. Active surveillance of patients who have sentinel node positive melanoma: An international, multi-institution evaluation of adoption and early outcomes after the Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial II (MSLT-2). Cancer. 2021 Jul.127(13):2251-2261. Pubmedid: 33826754. Pmcid: PMC8764513.
• Broman KK, Hughes TM, Dossett LA, Sun J, Carr M, Kirichenko DA, Sharma A, Bartlett EK, Nijhuis AA, Thompson JF, Hieken TJ, Kottschade L, Downs J, Gyorki DE, Stahlie E, van Akkooi A, Ollila DW, Frank J, Song Y, Karakousis G, Moncrieff M, Nobes J, Vetto J, Han D, Farma J, Deneve JL, Fleming MD, Perez M, Baecher K, Lowe M, Olofsoon Bagge R, Mattsson J, Lee AY, Berman KS, Chai H, Kroon HM, Teras RM, Teras J, Farrow NE, Beasley GM, Hui JY, Been L, Kruijff S, Boulware D, Sarnaik AA, Sondak VK, Zager JS. Surveillance of Sentinel Node-Positive Melanoma Patients with Reasons for Exclusion from MSLT-II: Multi-Institutional Propensity Score Matched Analysis. J Am Coll Surg. 2021 Apr.232(4):424-431. Pubmedid: 33316427. Pmcid: PMC8764869.
• Farley CR, Perez MC, Soelling SJ, Delman KA, Harit A, Wuthrick EJ, Messina JL, Sondak VK, Zager JS, Lowe MC. Merkel Cell Carcinoma Outcomes: Does AJCC8 Underestimate Survival?. Ann Surg Oncol. 2020 Jun.27(6):1978-1985. Pubmedid: 32103415.
• Farley CR, Perez MC, Soelling SJ, Delman KA, Harit A, Wuthrick EJ, Messina JL, Sondak VK, Zager JS, Lowe MC. Correction to: Merkel Cell Carcinoma Outcomes: Does AJCC8 Underestimate Survival?. Ann Surg Oncol. 2020 Dec.27(Suppl 3):983. Pubmedid: 32699930.
• Perez MC, Sun J, Farley C, Han D, Sun AH, Narayan D, Lowe M, Delman KA, Messina JL, Gonzalez RJ, Sondak VK, Khushalani NI, Zager JS. Management of intussusception in patients with melanoma. J Surg Oncol. 2019 Jun.119(7):897-902. Pubmedid: 30734297.
• Perez MC, Zager JS, Amatruda T, Conry R, Ariyan C, Desai A, Kirkwood JM, Treichel S, Cohan D, Raskin L. Observational study of talimogene laherparepvec use for melanoma in clinical practice in the United States (COSMUS-1). Melanoma Manag. 2019 Jul.6(2):MMT19. Pubmedid: 31406563. Pmcid: PMC6688558.
• Davis EJ, Perez MC, Ayoubi N, Zhao S, Ye F, Wang DY, Sosman JA, Al-Rohil RN, Eroglu Z, Johnson DB. Clinical Correlates of Response to Anti-PD-1-based Therapy in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma. J Immunother. 2019 Jul.42(6):221-227. Pubmedid: 30882548. Pmcid: PMC6561788.
• Perez MC, Oliver DE, Weitman ES, Boulware D, Messina JL, Torres-Roca J, Cruse CW, Gonzalez RJ, Sarnaik AA, Sondak VK, Wuthrick EJ, Harrison LB, Zager JS. Management of Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Completion Lymphadenectomy, Radiation, or Both?. Ann Surg Oncol. 2019 Feb.26(2):379-385. Pubmedid: 30311164. Pmcid: PMC7771265.
• Weitman ES, Perez MC, Lee D, Kim Y, Fulp W, Sondak VK, Sarnaik AA, Gonzalez RJ, Cruse CW, Messina JL, Zager JS. Re-biopsy of partially sampled thin melanoma impacts sentinel lymph node sampling as well as surgical margins. Melanoma Manag. 2019 Apr.6(2):MMT17. Pubmedid: 31406562. Pmcid: PMC6688556.
• Louie RJ, Perez MC, Jajja MR, Sun J, Collichio F, Delman KA, Lowe M, Sarnaik AA, Zager JS, Ollila DW. Real-World Outcomes of Talimogene Laherparepvec Therapy: A Multi-Institutional Experience. J Am Coll Surg. 2019 Apr.228(4):644-649. Pubmedid: 30690076.
• Perez MC, de Pinho FR, Holstein A, Oliver DE, Naqvi SMH, Kim Y, Messina JL, Burke E, Gonzalez RJ, Sarnaik AA, Cruse CW, Wuthrick EJ, Harrison LB, Sondak VK, Zager JS. Resection Margins in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Is a 1-cm Margin Wide Enough?. Ann Surg Oncol. 2018 Oct.25(11):3334-3340. Pubmedid: 30073600. Pmcid: PMC7771268.
• Perez MC, Orcutt ST, Zager JS. Current standards of surgical management in primary melanoma. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2018 Feb.153(1):56-67. Pubmedid: 28895666.
• Perez MC, Zager JS. ASO Author Reflections: Resection Margins in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Is a 1 cm Margin Wide Enough?. Ann Surg Oncol. 2018 Dec.25(Suppl 3):901. Pubmedid: 30151562.
• Perez MC, Miura JT, Naqvi SMH, Kim Y, Holstein A, Lee D, Sarnaik AA, Zager JS. Talimogene Laherparepvec (TVEC) for the Treatment of Advanced Melanoma: A Single-Institution Experience. Ann Surg Oncol. 2018 Dec.25(13):3960-3965. Pubmedid: 30298318. Pmcid: PMC7771271.
• Perez MC, Yu HM, Markowitz J. Severe thromboembolic phenomenon in the setting of pseudoprogression of melanoma brain metastases in response to combination immunotherapy. BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Aug.2018. Pubmedid: 30108120. Pmcid: PMC6101337.
• Abbott AM, Doepker MP, Kim Y, Perez MC, Gandle C, Thomas KL, Choi J, Shridhar R, Zager JS. Hepatic Progression-free and Overall Survival After Regional Therapy to the Liver for Metastatic Melanoma. Am J Clin Oncol. 2018 Aug.41(8):747-753. Pubmedid: 28059929. Pmcid: PMC7771287.
• Weitman ES, Perez M, Thompson JF, Andtbacka RHI, Dalton J, Martin ML, Miller T, Gwaltney C, Sarson D, Wachter E, Zager JS. Quality of life patient-reported outcomes for locally advanced cutaneous melanoma. Melanoma Res. 2018 Apr.28(2):134-142. Pubmedid: 29261570. Pmcid: PMC5844587.
• Rossfeld K, Hade EM, Gangi A, Perez M, Kinsey EN, Grabska J, Ederle A, Zager J, Salama AK, Olencki TE, Beasley GM. Metastatic melanoma patients' sensitivity to ipilimumab cannot be predicted by tumor characteristics. Int J Surg Oncol (N Y). 2017 Oct.2(9):e43. Pubmedid: 29177235. Pmcid: PMC5673131.
• O'Donoghue C, Perez MC, Mullinax JE, Hardman D, Sileno S, Naqvi SMH, Kim Y, Gonzalez RJ, Zager JS. Isolated Limb Infusion: A Single-Center Experience with Over 200 Infusions. Ann Surg Oncol. 2017 Dec.24(13):3842-3849. Pubmedid: 29019175. Pmcid: PMC7771340.
• Mullinax JE, Kroon HM, Thompson JF, Nath N, Mosca PJ, Farma JM, Bhati R, Hardmann D, Sileno S, O'Donoghue C, Perez M, Naqvi SM, Chen YA, Gonzalez RJ, Zager JS. Isolated Limb Infusion as a Limb Salvage Strategy for Locally Advanced Extremity Sarcoma. J Am Coll Surg. 2017 Apr.224(4):635-642. Pubmedid: 28214556. Pmcid: PMC7771304.
• Forster MR, Rashid OM, Perez MC, Choi J, Chaudhry T, Zager JS. Chemosaturation with percutaneous hepatic perfusion for unresectable metastatic melanoma or sarcoma to the liver: a single institution experience. J Surg Oncol. 2014 Apr.109(5):434-439. Pubmedid: 24249545. Pmcid: PMC4503311.
• Perez MC, Padhya TA, Messina JL, Jackson RS, Gonzalez RJ, Bui MM, Letson GD, Cruse CW, Lavey RS, Cheong D, Forster MR, Fulp WJ, Sondak VK, Zager JS. Cutaneous angiosarcoma: a single-institution experience. Ann Surg Oncol. 2013 Oct.20(11):3391-3397. Pubmedid: 23835652. Pmcid: PMC4509495.