Stage IV Melanoma Clinical Trials 2023

Browse 12 Stage Iv Melanoma Medical Studies Across 175 Cities

1 Phase 3 Trial ยท 268 Stage Iv Melanoma Clinics

Reviewed by Michael Gill, B. Sc.
10 Stage Iv Melanoma Clinical Trials Near Me
Top Hospitals for Stage Iv Melanoma Clinical Trials
Image of Massachusetts General Hospital in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston
4Active Trials
0All Time Trials for Stage Iv Melanoma
2004First Stage Iv Melanoma Trial
Image of Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Massachusetts.
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston
3Active Trials
0All Time Trials for Stage Iv Melanoma
2015First Stage Iv Melanoma Trial
Image of NYU Langone Health in New York.
NYU Langone Health
New York
2Active Trials
0All Time Trials for Stage Iv Melanoma
2022First Stage Iv Melanoma Trial
Image of Cross Cancer Institute in Alberta.
Cross Cancer Institute
Edmonton
2Active Trials
0All Time Trials for Stage Iv Melanoma
2015First Stage Iv Melanoma Trial
Image of Poudre Valley Hospital in Colorado.
Poudre Valley Hospital
Fort Collins
2Active Trials
0All Time Trials for Stage Iv Melanoma
2009First Stage Iv Melanoma Trial
Top Cities for Stage Iv Melanoma Clinical Trials
Image of Boston in Massachusetts.
Boston
11Active Trials
Massachusetts General HospitalTop Active Site
Image of Des Moines in Iowa.
Des Moines
6Active Trials
Iowa Methodist Medical CenterTop Active Site
Stage Iv Melanoma Clinical Trials by Phase of Trial
Phase 1 Stage Iv Melanoma Clinical Trials
2Active Stage Iv Melanoma Clinical Trials
2Number of Unique Treatments
6Number of Active Locations
Stage Iv Melanoma Clinical Trials by Age GroupMost Recent Stage Iv Melanoma Clinical TrialsTop Treatments for Stage Iv Melanoma Clinical Trials
Treatment Name
Active Stage Iv Melanoma Clinical Trials
All Time Trials for Stage Iv Melanoma
First Recorded Stage Iv Melanoma Trial
Nivolumab
2
2
2015
Ipilimumab
2
2
2010
Tocilizumab
1
1
2019
Ipilumumab
1
1
2016
Pharmacological Study
1
1
2014

What are Stage IV Melanoma Clinical Trials?

Stage IV (stage 4) melanoma is a melanoma that has spread to other body parts such as the lungs, liver, brain, and gastrointestinal tract. It is also called distant metastatic melanoma.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer resulting from the abnormal growth of melanocytes, the skin cells that produce the skin pigment melanin. This type of skin cancer has been linked to ultraviolet radiation in sunlight or tanning beds, which damages the melanocytes and leads to tumor growth.

It is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer because of the speed at which it can spread, unlike other common skin cancers like squamous or basal cell carcinoma.

Once a patient reaches stage 4, it is challenging to treat as there are now growths in multiple areas of the body. Healthcare providers use a combination of therapies to stop cancer and prolong a patient's life.

Why Is Stage IV Melanoma Being Studied Through Clinical Trials?

Melanoma is one of the top 10 prevalent cancers in the US, with nearly 100,000 diagnosed in 2023 and approximately 7,600 dying from complications.

Even though it is commonly seen in lighter-skinned individuals, people with dark skin tones can still be diagnosed with it. Estimates suggest that 1 in every 50 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma.

If diagnosed early, a patient has a 70 โ€“ 90% chance of five-year survival. However, once it has reached stage IV and metastases, this rate drops to 32%. For patients at this late stage, clinical trials are their last hope as they provide treatment options when standard ones have failed.

These trials also give healthcare providers vital information about the safety and effectiveness of new therapies that can treat melanomas in their early stages.

What Treatment is Available for Stage IV Melanoma?

As stage IV melanoma has spread to other organs, the treatment is focused on slowing the spread and shrinking tumors. Enlarged lymph nodes and skin tumors causing symptoms are removed via surgery, but it may not be possible for growth in other organs.

In such cases, a combination of radiation, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or chemotherapy is used. Doctors often recommend that patients with stage IV melanoma enroll in clinical trials.

The side effects of these aggressive treatments are severe and can drastically affect a patient's quality of life. Some may find it too difficult to bear and instead opt to just focus on pain management and other palliative care.

What are Some Recent Stage IV Melanoma Clinical Trial Breakthroughs?

2023: This clinical trial studied the effects of pembrolizumab as an adjuvant therapy in resected distant metastatic melanoma. 976 patients were enrolled to test the effects and safety of this immunotherapy against a placebo. Pembrolizumab was found to be effective when compared to a placebo.

2018: This long-term clinical trial studied the effectiveness of the combination nivolumab + ipilimumab against two control groups, nivolumab + placebo, and double placebo, as a post-surgical/post-radiation treatment for stage IV melanoma with no remission. Five-year findings showed the active regimen significantly improved recurrence-free survival.

About The Author

Michael Gill preview

Michael Gill - B. Sc.

First Published: October 27th, 2021

Last Reviewed: May 14th, 2023

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