Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Intracarotid Cancer Cell Injection to Produce Mouse Models of Brain Metastasis
07:43

Intracarotid Cancer Cell Injection to Produce Mouse Models of Brain Metastasis

Published on: February 8, 2017

26.6K

Enrollment Trends Among Patients with Melanoma Brain Metastasis in Active Clinical Trials

Omar Elghawy1, Reema Patel2, Jason Xu1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Cancer Investigation
|May 22, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Most clinical trials exclude patients with melanoma brain metastases (MBM), hindering access to new treatments. Reconsidering trial designs is crucial for improving outcomes for these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Clinical Trial Design
  • Neuro-oncology

Background:

  • Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is frequent in melanoma, often leading to treatment failure.
  • Melanoma brain metastases (MBM) represent a significant challenge in patient management and therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the enrollment rates of patients with MBM in prospective clinical trials.
  • To identify factors influencing the exclusion or inclusion of MBM patients in trial protocols.

Main Methods:

  • Review of prospective clinical trials for melanoma.
  • Analysis of patient eligibility criteria, focusing on CNS disease status.
  • Statistical evaluation of factors associated with MBM patient inclusion.

Main Results:

  • A significant majority of trials (69.3%) excluded patients with MBM based on their CNS disease.
  • Exclusion criteria frequently impact patients with advanced melanoma.
  • Trials not using immunotherapy, those including leptomeningeal disease, and non-pharmaceutical sponsored trials showed higher MBM inclusion rates.

Conclusions:

  • Current clinical trial designs present barriers for MBM patients seeking access to novel therapies.
  • Revising trial eligibility criteria is essential to include MBM patients.
  • Improved trial inclusivity can enhance therapeutic options and outcomes for patients with melanoma brain metastases.
Keywords:
Melanomabrain metastasisclinical trialsinclusion criterialeptomeningeal disease

More Related Videos

Modeling Brain Metastasis by Internal Carotid Artery Injection of Cancer Cells10:01

Modeling Brain Metastasis by Internal Carotid Artery Injection of Cancer Cells

Published on: August 2, 2022

6.5K
Author Spotlight: Assessing the Potential of Circulating Tumor Cells in Leptomeningeal Disease Research06:25

Author Spotlight: Assessing the Potential of Circulating Tumor Cells in Leptomeningeal Disease Research

Published on: March 29, 2024

849

Related Concept Videos

Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
Treatment Resistent Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistent Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
Clinical Trials01:16

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
Clinical Trials: Overview01:11

Clinical Trials: Overview

Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...