Overview
MERLIN_001 is a prospective registry study of a primary melanoma gene-signature to predict sentinel node (SN) status and to determine its prognostic value for more accurate staging of SN-negative melanoma patients.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Newly diagnosed patients with invasive malignant melanoma of the skin (AJCC 8th edition staging guidelines) elected to undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy per the treating physician's recommendation.
- Male or female, age ≥18 years.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Full primary melanoma pathology report unavailable.
- Documented clinically apparent nodal metastases at diagnosis.
- Distant metastatic disease (M1a,b,c,d) clinically present at primary diagnosis
- Any prior or concurrent primary invasive melanoma mapping to the same draining lymph node basin(s).
- Documented history of another (prior or concurrent) primary invasive melanoma of T1b or greater at any site within the last 5 years.
- Previous surgery in or radiation therapy to the draining lymph node basin(s) of the current primary melanoma.
- Ocular, vulvar, perianal or mucosal melanomas or melanocytic tumors of uncertain malignant potential (MELTUMP) or atypical Spitz tumors.