Lynn Schuchter

Lynn Schuchter

Medical Oncologist

Melanoma

Abramson Cancer Center

Location USA, Philadelphia

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Dr. Lynn Schuchter is a medical oncologist specializing in melanoma and cutaneous malignancies. She is currently Director of the Tara Miller Melanoma Center and Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Professor of Clinical Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Her work focuses on melanoma, skin cancers, and translational research in cancer immunotherapy and neoadjuvant therapy.

Current Position

  • Director, Tara Miller Melanoma Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
  • Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Professor of Clinical Oncology, University of Pennsylvania
  • Affiliated with Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and UPMC Presbyterian

Education

MD — Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Class of 1982
Residency in Internal Medicine — Michael Reese Medical Center
Fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology — Johns Hopkins Hospital
Fellowship — University of Pennsylvania Health System

Professional Experience

  • Director of the Tara Miller Melanoma Center at the University of Pennsylvania, where she leads clinical and research programs focused on melanoma and cutaneous malignancies, with over 35 years of practice experience.
  • Practicing medical oncologist affiliated with the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and UPMC Presbyterian, where she specializes in melanoma, cutaneous malignancies, Merkel cell skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell skin cancer, and general medical oncology.
  • Active member of the Penn Melanoma and Cutaneous Malignancies Program.
  • Principal investigator and collaborator in multiple completed clinical trials, including a Phase 2 study of CT-011 monoclonal antibody in metastatic melanoma, a Phase 2 trial of
  • Tretinoin with or without Fenretinide in dysplastic nevus syndrome (1999), and a Phase 1 study of PD-0332991 in combination with T-DM1

Research Activity

  • Neoadjuvant immunotherapy in resectable metastatic melanoma, including single-dose pembrolizumab studies.
  • Combination anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapy and clonal T cell responses, including progenitor-exhausted CD8+ T cells.
  • Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in necrotic tumors following melanoma neoadjuvant anti-PD1 therapy and their correlation with pathological response and recurrence-free survival.
  • FDG PET/CT imaging as an early predictor of treatment response in advanced melanoma after pembrolizumab.
  • Engineered extracellular vesicles with DR5 agonistic scFvs targeting tumor and immunosuppressive stromal cells.
  • Text message interventions to minimize the time burden of cancer care.
  • Machine learning-based mortality prediction and its integration with behavioral nudges to improve serious illness conversations in oncology.
  • Exosomal PD-L1 and its role in immunosuppression and anti-PD-1 response.

Publications

  • Shafique N, et al. Single-Dose Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab in Resectable Metastatic Melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol, 2025.
  • Bange EM, et al. A Text Message Intervention to Minimize the Time Burden of Cancer Care. NEJM Catal Innov Care Deliv, 2025.
  • Guo Y, et al. Engineered Extracellular Vesicles with DR5 Agonistic scFvs Simultaneously Target Tumor and Immunosuppressive Stromal Cells. Sci Adv, 2025.
  • Sargen MR, et al. Evaluation and Surgical Management of Pediatric Cutaneous Melanoma and Atypical Spitz and Non-Spitz Melanocytic Tumors. J Clin Oncol, 2024.
  • Ma KL, et al. Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Necrotic Tumors after Melanoma Neoadjuvant Anti-PD1 Therapy. Clin Cancer Res, 2024.
  • Wang K, et al. Combination Anti-PD-1 and Anti-CTLA-4 Therapy Generates Waves of Clonal Responses Including Progenitor-Exhausted CD8+ T Cells. Cancer Cell, 2024.
  • Sharon CE, et al. Long-Term Outcomes to Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab Based on Pathological Response for Patients with Resectable Stage III/IV Cutaneous Melanoma. Ann Oncol, 2024.
  • Takvorian SU, et al. Clinician- and Patient-Directed Communication Strategies for Patients with Cancer at High Mortality Risk. JAMA Network Open, 2024.
  • Anderson TM, et al. FDG PET/CT Imaging 1 Week after a Single Dose of Pembrolizumab Predicts Treatment Response in Advanced Melanoma. Clin Cancer Res, 2024.
  • Parikh RB, et al. Effect of Integrating Machine Learning Mortality Estimates with Behavioral Nudges to Clinicians on Serious Illness Conversations. JAMA Oncology.
  • Shulman LN, et al. Validation of a Machine Learning Algorithm to Predict 180-Day Mortality for Outpatients with Cancer. JAMA Oncology.
  • Xu X, et al. Exosomal PD-L1 Contributes to Immunosuppression and Is Associated with Anti-PD-1 Response. Nature.

Memberships / Honors / Awards

  • Fellow, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
  • Member, National College of Physicians, Philadelphia
  • Member, Melanoma Research Foundation
  • Member, National Scientific Review Panels
  • Member, Society of Biological Therapy
  • Member, Society of Melanoma Research
  • Board Certified in Internal Medicine (1985) and Medical Oncology (1989) — American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Recognized annually in Philadelphia Magazine’s Top Docs issue from 2004 through 2025.

Areas of Specialization

  • Melanoma and cutaneous malignancies
  • Merkel cell skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell skin cancer
  • Hematologic oncology
  • Neoadjuvant immunotherapy
  • Translational oncology research