Skin Cancer/Melanoma

The most common forms of skin cancers are basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, and the most serious form is melanoma, which can present itself as cutaneous, ocular, or mucosal melanoma. It is a disease that is most frequently diagnosed in Caucasians, who are at greater risk than any other race. Risk factors vary for different types of skin, but have been associated with age, prior history, basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers, family history, sun sensitivity, overexposure to the sun, and work-related exposure to coal, tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, or radium.

Treatment options may vary depending on the type of melanoma, stage of the disease, patient's age, and other medical conditions, and should be discussed with the patient's physician.

Melanoma Clinical Trials

The Center for Cancer Research (CCR), NCI's largest division doing research on campus, conducts melanoma clinical trials at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md. NCI accepts referrals to melanoma clinical trials conducted in Bethesda, Md., through its Clinical Trials Referral Office (formerly called Clinical Studies Support Center) at 1-888-NCI-1937 (1-888-624-1937).

NCI is currently conducting the following trials for patients with melanoma. Click on the trials below for additional details, including a summary of eligibility criteria, treatment plan, and information on how to contact the principal investigators and their staff directly.