• Category eNews
  • DATE 23 Nov 2022

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials Limited (MASC Trials)

November 2022

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials Limited (MASC Trials) is Australia and New Zealand’s collaborative clinical trials group committed to improving melanoma and skin cancer outcomes.

Working with leading researchers, MASC Trials conducts multicentre, national and international clinical trials at more than 110 institutions in Australia and overseas. Our diverse and growing portfolio includes research in the prevention, early detection and treatment of melanoma and skin cancer, including early to late phase clinical trials.

As of late October 2022, we had enrolled 1004 new participants in 12 active trials (open and closed to recruitment) at 141 sites across 11 countries. These achievements are testament to the fantastic work of our investigators and their teams throughout the world.

Recent highlights include:

Launch of the BETTER trial, which will test a new treatment combination in patients with symptomatic melanoma brain metastases. The trial has been made possible thanks to a $100,000 donation from the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation. Currently in start-up phase, the BETTER trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of combining the immunotherapy drugs nivolumab and ipilimumab with bevacizumab and targeted radiotherapy in patients with melanoma brain metastases who have symptoms from their disease and are not suitable for surgical treatment.

Boosting the MelMarT-II trial’s international efforts recently was a collaborative agreement with the USA’s National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network (NCI-NCTN) through the SWOG Cooperative Group. This development has allowed for an additional 90 USA sites to join the trial, which is investigating whether there is a difference in disease-free survival for patients treated with either a 1cm or 2cm excision margin for stage II primary cutaneous melanoma.

The IMAGE trial, which is examining the effectiveness of early detection 2D and 3D Melanoma Surveillance Photography, has now recruited over 500 participants. IMAGE trial participant, Mr Viv Chapman, said “Being in this trial has given me so much peace of mind because I’m not leaving things up to chance or hoping someone happens to notice a small change in one of the many marks on my body.” Read Viv’s story.

MASC Trials developed a patient and consumer centred education initiative funded by Cancer Australia to help melanoma and skin cancer patients aged 60+ living rural and regional Australia.

The outcomes of a consumer survey informed the development and delivery of evidence-based education resources. Working with Melanoma Patients Australia, the Self-Skin Checks, No Regrets education campaign was launched in early June 2022 and featured social media and media coverage, a website with a large range of evidence-based resources, self-skin check information, patient stories and more.

Events

2023 Annual Scientific Meeting

Date: Thursday, 23 March 2023

Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm AEST

Venue: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

The ASM will be a satellite meeting of the Australasian Melanoma Conference (24-25 March 2023, Brisbane).

Register here: https://www.masc.org.au/asm-2023/

The MASC Trials ASM brings together experts in melanoma and skin cancer clinical trials and consumers, and will be attended by the many disciplines critical to our work. The program includes a stellar line-up of leaders in their fields who will discuss the latest clinical research in melanoma and skin cancer. Updates on MASC Trials’ research portfolio and opportunities for new research collaborations will form part of the meeting. Consumer presentations will also provide a unique perspective on our patient engagement.

3rd AOMA Summit

The Australasian Ocular Melanoma Alliance (AOMA) is a special interest group of MASC Trials. Held in July, the 3rd AOMA Virtual Summit was attended by consumers and those working in ocular melanoma from all over the world. View the scientific and consumer sessions: https://www.masc.org.au/aoma-2022/

Supporting clinical trials

High quality clinical trials require significant and sustained financial investment to deliver real-world results. To expand our critical work, we are looking beyond government funding and are developing our partnerships and fundraising activity. To help us improve the lives of melanoma and skin cancer patients in Australia and globally, please donate to MASC Trials at https://www.masc.org.au/donate/

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