Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials

Conquering melanoma and skin cancer

The clinical trials portfolio covers the prevention, early detection, and treatment of melanoma and skin cancer, including early to late phase clinical trials. Importantly, MASC Trials also investigates rare forms of skin cancer such as Merkel cell carcinoma and uveal melanoma.

In 2024 the clinical trial portfolio grew to include 13 clinical trials in various stages, from start-up through to longer term follow-up. Recruitment increased with 998 new participants enrolled across 39 Australian and 168 international trial sites, and membership grew to 3,019 across 34 countries.

Further details can be found in the 2023-2024 annual report.

2024 highlights

This year mark 25 years of progress in melanoma and cancer treatments through MASC Trials in Australasia. We continue to deliver significant scientific outcomes with Cancer Australia’s ongoing support, we regularly attract project funding, and we remain committed to our mission to work collaboratively with world-leading researchers to deliver clinical trials that improve melanoma and skin cancer outcomes.

MASC Trials was chosen by the Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association (ALPA) as its 2024 charity. The ALPA community raised an impressive $144, 014 this year through charity auctions in Sydney, Brisbane and Victoria.

In May, the Australian Melanoma & Skin Cancer Alliance launched its National targeted Skin Cancer Screening Program Consensus Statement, with MASC Trials one of the leading supporters of and signatories on this important document. Learn more

Clinical trials

Our biggest recruiting trial, MelMarT-II, expanded to Ireland with six trial sites planned via Cancer Trials Ireland in February. The trial enrolled the two-thousandth participant in April. MelMarT-II is investigating the optimal surgical excision margin for stage II melanoma and will study almost 3,000 patients from 180 sites actively recruiting globally.

Also in April we supported the Monash Victorian Heart Institute to open the SOCRATES trial at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Ipswich Hospital. The trial aims to determine if a common cholesterol-lowering drug can prevent heart disease in melanoma patients who are being treated with immunotherapy.

Our SiroSkin trial opened to recruitment and enrolled its first participant in April. The trial is exploring whether topical Sirolimus cream can reduce the incidence of squamous cell carcinomas in organ transplant recipients.

Results from the RADICAL trial were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, USA. This trial is examining how a topical cream, Imiquimod, compares to radiotherapy in successfully treating lentigo maligna when surgical excision is not possible.

EAGLE FM trial investigators published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology in March. The Evaluation of Groin Lymphadenectomy Extent for Melanoma (EAGLE FM) study measured leg lymphoedema, a chronic swelling that can occur after surgical removal of groin lymph nodes for melanoma.

Results from our RTN2 trial, a phase III Australia-wide randomised control trial, involving 50 participants with neurotropic melanoma, were published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology in June.

Operations

We welcomed the following staff to our team: Louise Gonzales, Senior Clinical Research Associate (formerly Clinical Research Associate), Dr Elsa Marquez, Clinical Data Manager and Ella Sjodin, Administrative Officer/Clinical Trials Assistant.

We now have 11 Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials staff members dedicated to supporting our investigators and coordinating clinical trials that impact outcomes for melanoma and skin cancer.

The year ahead

We look forward to the year ahead supporting investigators and researchers in clinical trial development and management, enabling vital research towards improving outcomes for people affected by melanoma and skin cancer.

Professor Mark Shackleton MBBS PhD FRACP
Chair, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials

Gabrielle Byars BSc MBioMedSci
Chief Executive Officer, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials Head, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research Centre, Monash University

Discipline-Specific Advisories

Our Discipline-Specific Advisories are forums for researchers, clinicians, and consumers to share ideas and drive progress to improve how melanoma and skin cancer is prevented, diagnosed, and treated. We currently have 268 members across eight advisories, including two special interest groups: Australasian Ocular Melanoma Alliance (AOMA) and Australasian Merkel Cell Carcinoma Interest Group (AMIGOs).

Consumer engagement

MASC Trials values independent patient feedback, which is why we work closely with our Consumer Advisory Panel. Our Panel members contributed to our scientific meetings, advising investigators and staff on how their work can be relevant and meet the needs and objectives of the people most affected by melanoma and skin cancer.

This year across our networks, we featured a story on a consumer advisory panel member, the diary of an ocular melanoma patient, and a patient in the SiroSkin trial.

Events

Annual Scientific Meeting

Our Annual Scientific Meeting on 24 October 2024 in Sydney was our most successful to date. Held as a satellite meeting of the Australasian Melanoma Conference, our first full-day meeting featured keynote speakers, Professor Dorothy Keefe and Adjunct Professor Jacinta Elston, and a stellar line-up of 18 Australian experts in their field. Highlights of the day were our consumer sessions and the networking event afterwards which allowed members to catch up with interstate colleagues.

Ocular melanoma virtual summit

The Australasian Ocular Melanoma Alliance (AOMA) Virtual Summit on 15 June 2024 focused on the rare cancer of ocular melanoma. This online all-day event was our most successful to date reaching 412 people across 21 countries, with session videos available for viewing after the meeting.

Concept Development Workshops

Our first workshop was held on 22 March 2024 at Monash University where our research centre is located. The research concepts explored included skin cancer prevention strategies and therapeutic options for non-melanoma skin cancers including radiotherapy, immunotherapy and chemotherapy. A second workshop focused on ocular melanoma was held in May.

2025 events will be announced on the MASC Trials website.