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We surface recruiting melanoma trials from ClinicalTrials.gov with plain-English eligibility guidance. Your BRAF mutation status and prior immunotherapy history determine which trials you qualify for — and which to pursue first.
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Melanoma trial eligibility is determined by your tumor's molecular profile and prior treatment history. These biomarkers appear most often in eligibility criteria — find them on your pathology or genomic report.
After BRAF/MEK inhibitor progression, options include: immunotherapy combinations (anti-PD-1 + anti-LAG-3, anti-PD-1 + anti-TIGIT), novel BRAF inhibitor combinations designed to overcome resistance, ERK inhibitor trials, and TIL therapy trials. BRAF resistance mechanism testing (MEK1/2 mutations, BRAF amplification) helps identify the best match.
Yes. For patients who failed both, active options include: TIL therapy (lifileucel is now FDA-approved; trials test combinations), bispecific antibodies targeting melanoma antigens (MART-1, gp100), personalized cancer vaccines (mRNA-based, e.g., mRNA-4157 + pembrolizumab), and novel checkpoint targets (TIGIT, TIM-3, LAG-3).
Yes. Uveal melanoma has distinct biology — GNAQ and GNA11 mutations instead of BRAF. Tebentafusp (Kimmtrak) is FDA-approved for HLA-A*02:01-positive uveal melanoma. Active trials include tebentafusp combinations, MEK inhibitors (trametinib), and novel bispecific agents.
HLA typing and GNAQ/GNA11 testing are the key first steps — ask your oncologist if these have been performed.
It depends on the trial and your brain metastasis status. Many modern trials now include patients with stable or previously treated brain mets. Some immunotherapy combination trials specifically include patients with active brain metastases. Trials for intracranial melanoma control are also available.
Your most recent MRI date and treatment history for brain mets are the key eligibility factors.
TIL therapy grows immune cells from your own tumor and infuses them back after conditioning chemotherapy. Lifileucel (Amtagvi) is FDA-approved for advanced melanoma. Key eligibility: at least one prior anti-PD-1 therapy, and for BRAF+ patients, a prior BRAF inhibitor; adequate organ function; resectable tumor lesion for T-cell harvest.
Yes. Acral and mucosal subtypes are more likely to have c-KIT mutations (up to 20%) and less likely to have BRAF mutations. c-KIT testing is essential — if mutant, imatinib-based trials and newer KIT inhibitor trials apply. Many BRAF-specific trials exclude acral/mucosal subtypes, so checking eligibility criteria carefully is critical.
Phase 1 tests safety. Phase 2 tests whether the treatment works. Phase 3 compares the new treatment against the current standard. Most patients look for Phase 2 or 3 trials, where the treatment has shown early promise.
Every trial has a checklist of who can and cannot join. These might include your cancer stage, specific gene mutations, prior treatments, age, and overall health. Meeting these is required — not optional.
No. The experimental treatment in a clinical trial is free. You may still have to pay for routine care like doctor visits, but the trial drug or procedure itself is covered by the sponsor.
Recruiting means the trial is actively looking for participants right now. "Not yet recruiting" means it's approved but hasn't started. "Active, not recruiting" means it's ongoing but has all the participants it needs.