Rogerio Neves, MD, PhD

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

Dr. Rogerio Neves is a Senior Member in the Department of Cutaneous Oncology. Dr. Neves received an MD from Faculdade de Medicina do ABC in Brazil and a PhD from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. He completed residency training in General Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Hospital Das Clínicas, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine. He completed Research Fellowships at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and then Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Neves joins us from Penn State University where he was a Professor of Surgery, Pharmacology and Medicine, and Director of the Cutaneous Oncology Program at the Penn State Cancer Institute. Dr. Neves is interested in developing novel treatments for people diagnosed with skin cancers. His foci are the treatment of melanoma, Merkel cell, basal and squamous cell carcinomas, rare skin cancers as well as oncologic reconstruction. His research interests include the translation of physiological and molecular mechanisms of tumor resistance, particularly in melanoma, as well as drug development for clinical trials in melanoma and advanced basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

Education & Training

Fellowship:

• Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Residency:

• Hospital Das Clinicas, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine - General Surgery
• Hospital Das Clinicas, University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine - Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Medical School:

• University of Sao Paulo, Brazil - MD

• 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. ASO Visual Abstract: 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 Mar.33(3):2596-2597. Pubmedid: 41361154.
• Brohl AS, Sondak VK, Wuthrick EJ, Kim Y, Eroglu Z, Markowitz J, Tarhini AA, Fan W, Martin J, Sneed L, Perez MC, Sarnaik A, Harrington M, Neves RI, Gonzalez RJ, Cruse CW, Zager JS, Tsai KY, Khushalani NI. Neoadjuvant lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in Merkel cell carcinoma: an investigator-initiated, open-label phase II trial. J Immunother Cancer. 2026 Jan.14(1). Pubmedid: 41534900. Pmcid: PMC12815050.
• 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.
• Lewis KD, Peris K, Sekulic A, Stratigos AJ, Dunn L, Eroglu Z, Chang ALS, Migden MR, Yoo SY, Mohan K, Coates E, Okoye E, Bowler T, Baurain JF, Bechter O, Hauschild A, Butler MO, Hernandez-Aya L, Licitra L, Neves RI, Ruiz ES, Seebach F, Lowy I, Goncalves P, Fury MG. Final analysis of phase II results with cemiplimab in metastatic basal cell carcinoma after hedgehog pathway inhibitors. Ann Oncol. 2024 Feb.35(2):221-228. Pubmedid: 38072158.
• 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.
• Crystal JS, Thompson JF, Hyngstrom J, Caracò C, Zager JS, Jahkola T, Bowles TL, Pennacchioli E, Beitsch PD, Hoekstra HJ, Moncrieff M, Ingvar C, van Akkooi A, Sabel MS, Levine EA, Agnese D, Henderson M, Dummer R, Neves RI, Rossi CR, Kane JM, Trocha S, Wright F, Byrd DR, Matter M, Hsueh EC, MacKenzie-Ross A, Kelley M, Terheyden P, Huston TL, Wayne JD, Neuman H, Smithers BM, Ariyan CE, Desai D, Gershenwald JE, Schneebaum S, Gesierich A, Jacobs LK, Lewis JM, McMasters KM, O'Donoghue C, van der Westhuizen A, Sardi A, Barth R, Barone R, McKinnon JG, Slingluff CL, Farma JM, Schultz E, Scheri RP, Vidal-Sicart S, Molina M, Testori AAE, Foshag LJ, Van Kreuningen L, Wang HJ, Sim MS, Scolyer RA, Elashoff DE, Cochran AJ, Faries MB. Therapeutic Value of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Patients With Melanoma: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surg. 2022 Sep.157(9):835-842. Pubmedid: 35921122. Pmcid: PMC9475390.
• Sondak VK, Neves RI, Wuthrick EJ, Messina JL, Khushalani NI. Current and future approaches in the surgical management of T3b/T4 primary and locoregionally advanced melanoma. Cancer. 2022 Nov.128(21):3764-3771. Pubmedid: 36066835.
• Massand S, Neves RI. Emerging Therapies in the Treatment of Advanced Melanoma. Clin Plast Surg. 2021 Oct.48(4):713-733. Pubmedid: 34503732.
• Chen A, Albertini JG, Bordeaux JS, Chen MW, Cook JL, Davidson C, Donnelly KC, Galaria II, Hannan CM, Kantor J, Kapp DL, Lawrence N, Lober CW, Loeding LD, Miller A, Ness DT, Neves RI, Revenaugh PC, Setabutr P, Tholpady SS, Tollefson TT, Van Beek MJ, Weiss PR, Alam M. Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline: Reconstruction after Skin Cancer Resection. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2021 May.147(5):812e-829e. Pubmedid: 33890904.
• Chen A, Albertini JG, Bordeaux JS, Chen MW, Cook JL, Davidson C, Donnelly KC, Galaria II, Hannan CM, Kantor J, Kapp DL, Lawrence N, Lober CW, Loeding LD, Miller A, Ness DT, Neves RI, Revenaugh PC, Setabutr P, Tholpady SS, Tollefson TT, Van Beek MJ, Weiss PR, Alam M. Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline: Reconstruction after Skin Cancer Resection. Dermatol Surg. 2021 Jul.47(7):891-907. Pubmedid: 34228675.
• Najjar YG, McCurry D, Lin H, Lin Y, Zang Y, Davar D, Karunamurthy A, Drabick JJ, Neves RI, Butterfield LH, Ernstoff MS, Puzanov I, Skitzki JJ, Bordeaux JM, Summitt IB, Bender JO, Young Kim J, Chen B, Sarikonda G, Pahuja A, Tsau J, Alfonso Z, Laing C, Pingpank JF, Holtzman MP, Sander C, Rose A, Zarour HM, Kirkwood JM, Tarhini AA. Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab and High-Dose IFNα-2b in Resectable Regionally Advanced Melanoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2021 Aug.27(15):4195-4204. Pubmedid: 33753453. Pmcid: PMC8338751.
• Chen A, Albertini JG, Bordeaux JS, Chen MW, Cook JL, Davidson C, Donnelly KC, Galaria II, Hannan CM, Kantor J, Kapp DL, Lawrence N, Lober CW, Loeding LD, Miller A, Ness DT, Neves RI, Revenaugh PC, Setabutr P, Tholpady SS, Tollefson TT, Van Beek MJ, Weiss PR, Alam M. Evidence-based clinical practice guideline: Reconstruction after skin cancer resection. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Aug.85(2):423-441. Pubmedid: 33931288.
• Gastman B, Agarwal PK, Berger A, Boland G, Broderick S, Butterfield LH, Byrd D, Fecci PE, Ferris RL, Fong Y, Goff SL, Grabowski MM, Ito F, Lim M, Lotze MT, Mahdi H, Malafa M, Morris CD, Murthy P, Neves RI, Odunsi A, Pai SI, Prabhakaran S, Rosenberg SA, Saoud R, Sethuraman J, Skitzki J, Slingluff CL, Sondak VK, Sunwoo JB, Turcotte S, Yeung CC, Kaufman HL. Defining best practices for tissue procurement in immuno-oncology clinical trials: consensus statement from the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Surgery Committee. J Immunother Cancer. 2020 Nov.8(2). Pubmedid: 33199512. Pmcid: PMC7670953.
• Massand S, Neves RI. Current Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Management. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019 Sep.144(3):520e-521e. Pubmedid: 31461065.
• Pameijer CR, Leung A, Neves RI, Zhu J. Indocyanine green and fluorescence lymphangiography for sentinel node identification in patients with melanoma. Am J Surg. 2018 Sep.216(3):558-561. Pubmedid: 29395022.
• Dinavahi SS, Noory MA, Gowda R, Drabick JJ, Berg A, Neves RI, Robertson GP. Moving Synergistically Acting Drug Combinations to the Clinic by Comparing Sequential versus Simultaneous Drug Administrations. Mol Pharmacol. 2018 Mar.93(3):190-196. Pubmedid: 29242354. Pmcid: PMC5801555.
• Gowda R, Dinavahi SS, Iyer S, Banerjee S, Neves RI, Pameijer CR, Robertson GP. Nanoliposomal delivery of cytosolic phospholipase A2 inhibitor arachidonyl trimethyl ketone for melanoma treatment. Nanomedicine. 2018 Apr.14(3):863-873. Pubmedid: 29317343. Pmcid: PMC5899023.
• Faries MB, Thompson JF, Cochran AJ, Andtbacka RH, Mozzillo N, Zager JS, Jahkola T, Bowles TL, Testori A, Beitsch PD, Hoekstra HJ, Moncrieff M, Ingvar C, Wouters MWJM, Sabel MS, Levine EA, Agnese D, Henderson M, Dummer R, Rossi CR, Neves RI, Trocha SD, Wright F, Byrd DR, Matter M, Hsueh E, MacKenzie-Ross A, Johnson DB, Terheyden P, Berger AC, Huston TL, Wayne JD, Smithers BM, Neuman HB, Schneebaum S, Gershenwald JE, Ariyan CE, Desai DC, Jacobs L, McMasters KM, Gesierich A, Hersey P, Bines SD, Kane JM, Barth RJ, McKinnon G, Farma JM, Schultz E, Vidal-Sicart S, Hoefer RA, Lewis JM, Scheri R, Kelley MC, Nieweg OE, Noyes RD, Hoon DSB, Wang HJ, Elashoff DA, Elashoff RM. Completion Dissection or Observation for Sentinel-Node Metastasis in Melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2017 Jun.376(23):2211-2222. Pubmedid: 28591523. Pmcid: PMC5548388.
• Koller KM, Mackley HB, Liu J, Wagner H, Talamo G, Schell TD, Pameijer C, Neves RI, Anderson B, Kokolus KM, Mallon CA, Drabick JJ. Improved survival and complete response rates in patients with advanced melanoma treated with concurrent ipilimumab and radiotherapy versus ipilimumab alone. Cancer Biol Ther. 2017 Jan.18(1):36-42. Pubmedid: 27905824. Pmcid: PMC5323007.
• Lacouture ME, Dréno B, Ascierto PA, Dummer R, Basset-Seguin N, Fife K, Ernst S, Licitra L, Neves RI, Peris K, Puig S, Sokolof J, Sekulic A, Hauschild A, Kunstfeld R. Characterization and Management of Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitor-Related Adverse Events in Patients With Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma. Oncologist. 2016 Oct.21(10):1218-1229. Pubmedid: 27511905. Pmcid: PMC5061532.
• Koller KM, Wang W, Schell TD, Cozza EM, Kokolus KM, Neves RI, Mackley HB, Pameijer C, Leung A, Anderson B, Mallon CA, Robertson G, Drabick JJ. Malignant melanoma-The cradle of anti-neoplastic immunotherapy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2016 Oct.106:25-54. Pubmedid: 27637351.
• Morrow BT, Albright WB, Neves RI, Wilkinson MJ, Samson TD. Orbital Expansion for Congenital Anophthalmia May Be Achievable in Infancy But Not in Childhood. J Craniofac Surg. 2016 Oct.27(7):1642-1646. Pubmedid: 27763969.
• Wyluda EJ, Cheng J, Schell TD, Haley JS, Mallon C, Neves RI, Robertson G, Sivik J, Mackley H, Talamo G, Drabick JJ. Durable complete responses off all treatment in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma after sequential immunotherapy followed by a finite course of BRAF inhibitor therapy. Cancer Biol Ther. 2015 May.16(5):662-670. Pubmedid: 25806780. Pmcid: PMC4622667.
• Clawson GA, Matters GL, Xin P, Imamura-Kawasawa Y, Du Z, Thiboutot DM, Helm KF, Neves RI, Abraham T. Macrophage-tumor cell fusions from peripheral blood of melanoma patients. PLoS One. 2015 Aug.10(8):e0134320. Pubmedid: 26267609. Pmcid: PMC4534457.
• Khanna P, Chung CY, Neves RI, Robertson GP, Dong C. CD82/KAI expression prevents IL-8-mediated endothelial gap formation in late-stage melanomas. Oncogene. 2014 May.33(22):2898-2908. Pubmedid: 23873025.
• Lynch MC, Drabick JJ, Neves RI, Fox EJ, Mackley HB, Anderson BE. Palliative effect of capecitabine and cetuximab for refractory metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the perineum in epidermodysplasia verruciformis. Skinmed. 2014 Jan.12(1):54-56. Pubmedid: 24720087.
• Michelotti BF, Brooke S, Mesa J, Wilson MZ, Moyer K, Mackay DR, Neves RI, Potochny J. Analysis of clinically significant seroma formation in breast reconstruction using acellular dermal grafts. Ann Plast Surg. 2013 Sep.71(3):274-277. Pubmedid: 23788150.
• Sharma A, Madhunapantula SV, Gowda R, Berg A, Neves RI, Robertson GP. Identification of aurora kinase B and Wee1-like protein kinase as downstream targets of (V600E)B-RAF in melanoma. Am J Pathol. 2013 Apr.182(4):1151-1162. Pubmedid: 23416158. Pmcid: PMC3620396.
• Brooke S, Mesa J, Uluer M, Michelotti B, Moyer K, Neves RI, Mackay D, Potochny J. Complications in tissue expander breast reconstruction: a comparison of AlloDerm, DermaMatrix, and FlexHD acellular inferior pole dermal slings. Ann Plast Surg. 2012 Oct.69(4):347-349. Pubmedid: 22868313.
• Rezze GG, Leon A, Silva DC, Neves RI, Molina GC, Carraro DM, Landman G, Duprat JP. Primary cutaneous melanoma arising in agminated melanocytic nevi: CDKN2A and CDK4 mutation screening. Acta Derm Venereol. 2012 Jan.92(1):98-99. Pubmedid: 21710107.
• Clawson GA, Kimchi E, Patrick SD, Xin P, Harouaka R, Zheng S, Berg A, Schell T, Staveley-O'Carroll KF, Neves RI, Mosca PJ, Thiboutot D. Circulating tumor cells in melanoma patients. PLoS One. 2012 Dec.7(7):e41052. Pubmedid: 22829910. Pmcid: PMC3400630.
• Neves RI, Stevenson J, Hancey MJ, Vangelisti G, Miraliakbari R, Mackay D, Clarke L. Endovascular papillary angioendothelioma (Dabska tumor): underrecognized malignant tumor in childhood. J Pediatr Surg. 2011 Jan.46(1):e25-e28. Pubmedid: 21238627.
• Neves RI, Reynolds BQ, Hazard SW, Saunders B, Mackay DR. Increased post-operative complications with methylene blue versus lymphazurin in sentinel lymph node biopsies for skin cancers. J Surg Oncol. 2011 Apr.103(5):421-425. Pubmedid: 21400527.
• Clarke LE, Frauenhoffer E, Fox E, Neves R, Bruggeman RD, Helm KF. CD10-positive myxofibrosarcomas: a pitfall in the differential diagnosis of atypical fibroxanthoma. J Cutan Pathol. 2010 Jul.37(7):737-743. Pubmedid: 20175824.
• Baiocchi G, Duprat JP, Neves RI, Fukazawa EM, Landman G, Guimarães GC, Valadares LJ. Vulvar melanoma: report on eleven cases and review of the literature. Sao Paulo Med J. 2010 Jan.128(1):38-41. Pubmedid: 20512279.
• Fateh S, Schell TD, Gingrich R, Neves RI, Drabick JJ. Unsuccessful high dose IL-2 therapy followed immediately by near continuous low dose temozolomide can result in rapid durable complete and near-complete remissions in metastatic melanoma. Cancer Biol Ther. 2010 Dec.10(11):1091-1097. Pubmedid: 20930514.
• Duprat JP, Domingues AL, Coelho EG, Leal RM, Nishinari K, Neves RI. Long-term response of isolated limb perfusion with hyperthermia and chemotherapy for Merkel cell carcinoma. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2009 Jun.35(6):568-572. Pubmedid: 19013049.
• de Sá BC, Fugimori ML, Ribeiro Kde C, Duprat Neto JP, Neves RI, Landman G. Proteins involved in pRb and p53 pathways are differentially expressed in thin and thick superficial spreading melanomas. Melanoma Res. 2009 Jun.19(3):135-141. Pubmedid: 19369901.
• Köhler HF, Neves RI, Brechtbühl ER, Mattos Granja NV, Ikeda MK, Kowalski LP. Cutaneous angiosarcoma of the head and neck: report of 23 cases from a single institution. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008 Oct.139(4):519-524. Pubmedid: 18922337.
• Dib LL, de Oliveira JA, Neves RI, Sandoval RL, Nannmark U. Auricular rehabilitation by means of bone grafting from the iliac crest in combination with porous extraoral implants: a case report. Clin Implant Dent Relat Res. 2007 Dec.9(4):228-232. Pubmedid: 18031445.
• Rezze GG, Scramim AP, Neves RI, Landman G. Structural correlations between dermoscopic features of cutaneous melanomas and histopathology using transverse sections. Am J Dermatopathxxx. 2006 Feb.28(1):13-20. Pubmedid: 16456319.
• Duprat JP, Silva DC, Coimbra FJ, Lima IA, Lima EN, Almeida OM, Brechtbühl ER, Landman G, Scramim AP, Neves RI. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in cutaneous melanoma: analysis of 240 consecutive cases. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2005 Jun.115(7):1944-1951. Pubmedid: 15923841.
• de Sá BC, Rezze GG, Scramim AP, Landman G, Neves RI. Cutaneous melanoma in childhood and adolescence: retrospective study of 32 patients. Melanoma Res. 2004 Dec.14(6):487-492. Pubmedid: 15577319.
• Landecker A, Katayama ML, Mammana AK, Leitão RM, Sachetta T, Gemperli R, Neves RI. Effects of retinoic and glycolic acids on neoangiogenesis and necrosis of axial dorsal skin flaps in rats. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2001 Mar.25(2):134-139. Pubmedid: 11349304.
• de Almeida OM, Braz JC, Jorgetti C, de Lemos RG, Neves RI. Treatment of extensive sternum keloid scar with surgical removal and immediate reconstruction with skin flaps from a combined mammaplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2000 Jun.105(7):2452-2454. Pubmedid: 10845301.
• de Almeida OM, Monteiro AA, Neves RI, de Lemos RG, Braz JC, Brechtbuhl ER, Gemperli R, Ferreira MC. Distally based fasciocutaneous flap of the calf for cutaneous coverage of the lower leg and dorsum of the foot. Ann Plast Surg. 2000 Apr.44(4):367-373. Pubmedid: 10783091.
• Cordeiro PG, Schwartz M, Neves RI, Tuma R. A comparison of donor and recipient site sensation in free tissue reconstruction of the oral cavity. Ann Plast Surg. 1997 Nov.39(5):461-468. Pubmedid: 9374141.
• Neves RI, Saggers GC, Mackay DR, Manders EK. Assessing the role of presuturing on wound closure. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1996 Apr.97(4):807-811. Pubmedid: 8628776.
• Neves RI, Saggers GC, Manders EK. Lizard's leg and howlet's wing: laboratory preparation of skeletal specimens. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1995 Sep.96(4):992-994. Pubmedid: 7652082.
• Cordeiro PG, Neves RI, Hidalgo DA. The role of free tissue transfer following oncologic resection in the lower extremity. Ann Plast Surg. 1994 Jul.33(1):9-16. Pubmedid: 7944207.
• Neves RI, Manders EK. Using the laser pointer as a teaching tool. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1993 Aug.92(2):376. Pubmedid: 8337302.
• Narron GH, Zec N, Neves RI, Manders EK, Sexton FM. Penicillamine-induced pseudoxanthoma elasticum-like skin changes requiring rhytidectomy. Ann Plast Surg. 1992 Oct.29(4):367-370. Pubmedid: 1466536.
• de Almeida OM, Modolin M, Neves RI, Horibe K, Vieira JC, Ferreira MC. [Toxic shock syndrome after reduction mammaplasty: a case report]. Rev Hosp Clin Fac Med Sao Paulo. 1992 Nov.47(6):285-289. Pubmedid: 1340621.
• Neves RI, Kahler SH, Banducci DR, Manders EK. Tissue expansion of sensate skin for pressure sores. Ann Plast Surg. 1992 Nov.29(5):433-437. Pubmedid: 1444132.
• Gemperli R, Neves RI, Tuma P, Bonamichi GT, Ferreira MC, Manders EK. Abdominoplasty combined with other intraabdominal procedures. Ann Plast Surg. 1992 Jul.29(1):18-22. Pubmedid: 1386719.
• Neves RI, Saggers GC, Manders EK. A better way of performing photography in the operating room. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1992 Jan.89(1):163-164. Pubmedid: 1727252.
• Gemperli R, Ferreira MC, Manders E, Neves RI, Bonamichi GT, Tuma Júnior P. [Use of tissue expanders on the scalp]. Rev Hosp Clin Fac Med Sao Paulo. 1991 May.46(3):112-115. Pubmedid: 1843377.
• Borges Filho PT, Neves RI, Gemperli R, Kaweski S, Kahler SH, Banducci DR, Manders EK. Soft-tissue expansion in lower extremity reconstruction. Clin Plast Surg. 1991 Jul.18(3):593-599. Pubmedid: 1889169.
• Gemperli R, Neves RI, Ferreira MC. [Extensive trauma of the external ear: surgical management]. Rev Paul Med. 1991 Jan.109(1):19-23. Pubmedid: 1882169.
• Gemperli R, Ferreira MC, Neves RI, de Lemos RG, Beira SP, Lodovici O. [Use of the gracilis muscle in reconstructing the perineum]. Rev Paul Med. 1989 Mar.107(2):83-87. Pubmedid: 2629058.