Clinical Research Directory

Symptoms of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Cutaneous Melanoma

The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of patients with stages IIB to IV cutaneous melanoma resulted in dramatic improvements in mortality rates for this common form of cancer. With this rapid shift in treatment, significant gaps in knowledge exist regarding the impact of ICIs on patients' symptom experiences. An in-depth characterization of inter-individual differences in patients' symptom experiences will fill this knowledge gap and assist with the early detection of ICI toxicity; guide symptom management; inform treatment decision making; and refine ICI-symptom instrument development. Furthermore, given the limited knowledge in this area, the identification of demographic, clinical, environmental, and molecular risk factors associated with a worse symptom experience is warranted. This is a longitudinal, prospective study evaluating the symptoms that immune checkpoint inhibitors may cause in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

MelmarT Melanoma Margins Trial Investigating 1cm v 2cm Wide Excision Margins for Primary Cutaneous Melanoma

Patients with a primary invasive melanoma are recommended to undergo excision of the primary lesion with a wide margin. There is evidence that less radical margins of excision may be just as safe. This is a randomised controlled trial of 1 cm versus 2 cm margin of excision of the primary lesion for adult patients with a primary invasive cutaneous melanomas \>=1mm thick to determine differences in the rate of local recurrence and melanoma specific survival. A reduction in margins is expected to improve quality of life in patients