UK clinical trials - updated daily from ClinicalTrials.gov
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Cancer

Melanoma (Skin Cancer) Clinical Trials in the UK

Find clinical trials for melanoma in the United Kingdom. Explore treatment pathways including immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and advanced treatments.

Understanding Melanoma

Melanoma affects ~16,000 people per year in the UK and is the 5th most common cancer. Incidence is rising, particularly in younger people. While it can be serious, early detection through skin checks means most melanomas are cured with surgery. Advanced melanoma has been transformed by immunotherapy and targeted therapy - survival rates have doubled in the last decade.

Biomarker Testing

Key biomarkers: BRAF V600 mutation (~40-50%, treated with dabrafenib + trametinib or encorafenib + binimetinib), NRAS mutation (~20%, no approved targeted therapy but immunotherapy works well), and c-KIT mutations (~3%, rare but may respond to imatinib). All advanced melanoma patients should have BRAF testing at diagnosis.

Treatment Pathway

Early stage: wide local excision ± sentinel lymph node biopsy. Adjuvant: immunotherapy (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) or targeted therapy (dabrafenib + trametinib for BRAF-mutant) for stage III. Metastatic first-line: combination immunotherapy (nivolumab + ipilimumab) or single-agent anti-PD1, with targeted therapy for BRAF-mutant. Newer options include relatlimab (LAG-3 + nivolumab) and tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy.

Clinical Trial Opportunities

The UK is a world leader in melanoma research. Active trials: next-generation immunotherapy combinations (anti-PD1 + anti-LAG-3 + anti-TIGIT), personalised cancer vaccines (mRNA-based), oncolytic virus therapy, TIL therapy expansion, and neoadjuvant (pre-surgery) immunotherapy. Many UK trials are available through NHS skin cancer centres.

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