Advancing Melanoma Treatment Through Research: A Pilot Study

A New Melanoma Marker

Summary: Melanoma is a very aggressive skin cancer that can quickly progress and cause death. In 2020, there were approximately 110,000 new melanoma cases in the U.S. and 7,000 melanoma deaths. And, the rates of new melanoma cases and deaths have been rising rapidly over the past few decades, particularly in white males who are over 65 years of age, as well as in young adults. Early detection and surgery offer a cure for melanoma at the early stage. However, there are no reliable diagnostic markers available for quick, simple and routine melanoma screening and as a result, melanoma is often diagnosed at advanced stages. Currently, doctors are treating patients with advanced or late-stage melanoma by boosting the patients’ own immune system to kill cancer cells. This treatment option is very costly, and it appears that the long-term benefits to the patients may be limited. Over the years, Dr. He and his lab have worked on a human gene and linked this gene to melanoma. His recent research has found that this gene is important for melanoma formation and survival of advanced melanoma. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine if this gene can serve as a marker to monitor treatment response and predict treatment outcomes in a small number of melanoma patients. We will use these preliminary findings to design a larger study, with the goal of finding a new marker for melanoma response and/or progression.

Jack’s Fund supports Dr. Richards and Dr. He‘s Melanoma Pilot: A New Melanoma Marker.