Diagnostic Study to Predict the Risk of Developing Metastatic Cancer in Patients With Stage I or Stage II Melanoma

Overview

RATIONALE: Diagnostic procedures that analyze surgically-removed tumor tissue and lymph node samples may help doctors identify patients with melanoma who are at risk for developing metastatic cancer. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying tumor tissue and lymph node samples to see how well they work in predicting the development of metastatic cancer in patients with stage I or stage II melanoma.

OBJECTIVES: * Correlate degree of melastatin gene expression with risk of developing local regional metastases in patients with primary stage I or II melanoma. * Correlate melastatin expression prospectively with event-free survival of these patients. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Melastatin mRNA expression is determined by in situ hybridization using tissue from primary tumor and lymph nodes. Tissue is also examined by immunohistochemical staining using antibodies to S-100 and MART-1. Patients do not receive the results of these tests nor do the results influence individual therapy. Patients are followed every 4 months for 3.5 years. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 300 patients will be accrued for this study within 3.5 years.

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Locations (27)

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