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Optimized treatment of malignant melanomas

Malignant Melanoma Study Group

The aim of the "Melanoma" study group is to initiate translational research projects at the 6 Bavarian locations and to improve access for patients to innovative therapy concepts and clinical studies and to coordinate them throughout Bavaria. Particular attention is paid to new diagnostic techniques, groups with a high need for research and rare special forms of melanoma such as mucosal melanoma.

With the availability of new oncologic agents such as targeted therapies and immune checkpoint blockade, the treatment of advanced melanoma has made great progress in recent years. Nevertheless, melanomas are often diagnosed too late and in many cases there is primary or secondary resistance to therapy. Special forms such as mucosal or uveal melanomas respond significantly less well to the available therapies. Against this background, the "Melanoma" study group is working on the following projects:

" PROMIT study

The PROMIT study (PROMIT: PReconditioningof TumOr, Tumor Microenvironmentand the Immune System to ImmunoTherapy) is an investigator-initiated study and pursues the hypothesis that chemotherapy with dacarbazine leads to sensitization to immune checkpoint blockade in therapy-resistant tumours. We hope that this will lead to a response to therapy even after primary or secondary resistance to immune checkpoint blockade. The study recruited at the centers Erlangen, LMU Munich, Würzburg and Regensburg. Results have already been published (Haferkamp et al. Brit J Dermatol 2025). Accompanying research on translational aspects is currently underway.

 

 

Dermato-oncological study newsletter

In order to facilitate participation in clinical trials at the participating sites, we have established a BZKF newsletter. It provides an overview of currently recruiting studies and is aimed at clinicians and colleagues in private practice. It is sent out every three months via an e-mail distribution list and contains all the key study information in tabular form.

 

Melarare" biobank

Melarare is a project idea designed to enable the scientific investigation of rare types of melanoma. For this purpose, a multicenter network will be established in which clinical information, radiological data sets and tissue samples from rare forms of melanoma (e.g. mucosal melanoma, acrolentiginous melanoma, uveal melanoma, childhood melanoma, late metastatic melanoma) will be collected and evaluated. This is intended to create larger collectives, even in the case of rare occurrences, which will serve as a basis for specific questions. Specifically, new therapeutic approaches in mucosal melanoma will be investigated using tissue microarrays and the microenvironment using spatial transcriptomics.

  • The PROMIT study was able to successfully recruit at 4 locations. Further accompanying research for this study is currently underway.
  • The BZKF newsletter currently provides information on open studies from the Erlangen, Augsburg, Regensburg, LMU and TU Munich centers. An expansion to more Bavarian centers is being sought in order to ensure access to dermato-oncological studies throughout Bavaria.
  • A database with over 200 mucosal melanomas has been established for melarare. This serves as a basis for research into the microenvironment and new therapeutic approaches using tissue microarrays and spatial transcriptomics.
  • Coordinated collection and analysis of archived tissue biopsies and creation of standardized protocols for tissue asservation
  • Analysis of radiological cross-sectional imaging examinations for correlation with molecular data and clinical progression

" Investigation of new therapeutic options for patients with resistance to immune checkpoint blockers
" Improved coordination and exchange of information for dermato-oncological studies throughout Bavaria
" Expansion of a Bavarian skin tumor network to create a structured and cross-location infrastructure
" Better investigation and risk prediction or prediction of treatment response for rare forms of melanoma
" Development of innovative study options for patients with rare forms of melanoma

BZKF Malignant Melanoma Study Group

Further study groups

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