Clinical Research Directory

A Study on How to Safely Guide Surgery for Melanoma and Similar Skin Tumors in Children Using Pathology and Genetic Information

This clinical trial compares the effect of using risk-based stratification to guide surgical management to the usual approach in treating cutaneous melanoma, atypical Spitz/Spitzoid tumors or other atypical melanocytic tumors that have not spread to other parts of the body (localized). Melanoma is a cancer that in children is sometimes difficult to tell apart from benign (not harmful) or atypical (uncertain if harmful) skin lesions. Failure to diagnose melanoma can result in inadequate surgical removal and increase the risk of recurrence and metastatic disease (spread from where it first started to other places in the body). In addition, diagnosing a tumor a benign (not cancer) tumor as cancer may lead to unnecessary surgery and treatment. This trial reviews tumor pathology and genetic markers and classifies the tumor as not atypical, atypical but low risk for spread and/or recurrence (coming back after a period of improvement), and atypical and high risk for spread and/or recurrence. The classifications are then used to provide surgical recommendations. Tumors that are not atypical do not receive any surgical treatment. Low-risk recommendations include removing a small layer of normal skin around the tumor. High-risk recommendations include the usual adult melanoma approach of removing a larger layer of normal skin around the tumor with or without a biopsy of the sentinel lymph node (the first lymph node to which tumor cells are likely to spread from a primary tumor). Risk-based guided surgical management may help avoid unnecessary surgery while improving outcomes in younger patients with localized cutaneous melanoma, atypical Spitz/Spitzoid tumors or other atypical melanocytic tumors.

Social Health, Activity Behaviors, and Quality of Life Among Young Adult Cancer Survivors

This longitudinal observational study examines how social health, including social support, social roles, loneliness, social anxiety, and social network characteristics, relates to physical activity, sedentary time, and quality of life among ethnically and racially diverse adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients aged 18-39 years. The study follows participants over four clinically significant timepoints in the first 12 months after diagnosis (baseline near diagnosis, mid treatment, near end of treatment, and 12 month follow up). At each timepoint, patients complete questionnaires and wear a wrist worn accelerometer for one week.

Role of Gut Microbiome and Fecal Transplant on Medication-Induced GI Complications in Patients With Cancer

This trial studies the role of the gut microbiome and effectiveness of a fecal transplant on medication-induced gastrointestinal (GI) complications in patients with melanoma or genitourinary cancer. The gut microbiome (the bacteria and microorganisms that live in the digestive system) may affect whether or not someone develops colitis (inflammation of the intestines) during cancer treatment with immune-checkpoint inhibitor drugs. Studying samples of stool, blood, and tissue from patients with melanoma or genitourinary cancer may help doctors learn more about the effects of treatment on cells, and help doctors understand how well patients respond to treatment. Treatment with fecal transplantation may help to improve diarrhea and colitis symptoms.

Intralesional Influenza Vaccine for the Treatment of Stage I-IV Melanoma

This phase I trial investigates the effects of influenza vaccine in treating patients with stage I-IV melanoma. While intramuscular administration of influenza vaccine provides immunization against the influenza virus, giving influenza vaccine directly into the tumor (intralesional) may decrease the size of the injected melanoma tumor, or the extent of the melanoma within the body.

Young Melanoma Family Facebook Intervention or Healthy Lifestyle Facebook Intervention in Improving Skin Examination in Participants With Melanoma and Their Families

This trial studies how well Young Melanoma Family Facebook intervention or Healthy Lifestyle Facebook intervention works in improving skin examination in participants with melanoma and their families. Young Melanoma Family Facebook intervention or Healthy Lifestyle Facebook intervention may help improve total cutaneous examinations, skin self-examinations, and sun protection among first degree relatives of young onset participants and the participants themselves.

The Impact of an Antibiotic (Cefazolin) Before Surgery on the Microbiome in Patients With Stage I-II Melanoma

This phase I trial investigates the impact of cefazolin before surgery on the microbiome in patients with stage I-II melanoma. Antibiotics, such as cefazolin, given at the time of surgery may cause a significant change in the microbes (like bacteria and viruses) found in the stomach and intestines. This trial may help researchers learn if any changes in microbes affect the body's ability to respond to surgery and cancer.

PRAME Immunohistochemistry-Guided Slow Mohs Micrographic Surgery for the Treatment of Stage 0 to IIc Cutaneous Melanoma

This clinical trial tests the addition of preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME) immunohistochemical (IHC) staining to standard slow Mohs micrographic surgery (SMMS) for guiding tissue removal in patients with stage 0 to IIc cutaneous melanoma. SMMS is a method of skin cancer removal involving repeated tissue removal and examination under a microscope to ensure the tumor is removed as much as possible while sparing healthy tissue. In SMMS, tissue sections are evaluated to determine whether additional tissue removal is needed. The standard method for evaluating the tissue is by using a specific stain called hematoxylin and eosin (H\&E) stains. PRAME is a cancer antigen that is being investigated as a diagnostic marker in certain types of cancer. Adding PRAME IHC analysis to standard SMMS staining methods may improve the accuracy for determining whether additional tissue removal is necessary for patients undergoing SMMS for stage 0 to IIc cutaneous melanoma.