MelanomaNCT01840527
Utility of Novel BRAF Test for Melanoma
An observational study of Melanoma, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 3 sites in United States.
Trial summary
This primary purpose of this study is to obtain blood samples from participants with both early and later stages of melanoma (Stage II/III and Stage IV). The researchers hope to better understand an abnormal protein found in many melanoma tumors called the BRAFV600 mutation. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Melanoma
- How many people
- 220 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- May 2013to Sep 2022
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Patients being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center
Who may be able to join
- Biopsy proven advanced (unresectable stage IIIC or stage IV)or high risk (stage II or stage III) malignant melanoma
Who cannot join
- History of a different malignancy except for the following circumstances: disease-free for at least 2 years and deemed by the investigator to be at low risk for recurrence; or non-metastatic prostate cancer, cervical cancer in situ and basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma
- Known history of a different BRAF mutant malignancy
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country.
United States3 sites
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215
About this study
Official title: Exploring the Utility of a Novel BRAF Test in Patients With Melanoma
This primary purpose of this study is to obtain blood samples from participants with both early and later stages of melanoma (Stage II/III and Stage IV). The researchers hope to better understand an abnormal protein found in many melanoma tumors called the BRAFV600 mutation.
There will be two separate cohorts (groups) of participants on this study. You will be placed in one of the Groups.
Read more
Group 1-For participants with advanced melanoma: Your existing tumor tissue sample will be compared to the blood samples given in order to further analyze and to understand the BRAFV600E gene mutation.
Group 2-For participants with stage II/III melanoma: Following surgery, blood samples will be collected and analyzed.
Understanding the BRAFV600E gene mutation in melanoma will help the researchers better understand the disease, and help plan treatment options for people with melanoma of all stages in the future.
Read the detailed description
There will be no extra clinic visits for this study. These research blood samples will be drawn at the same time as your regularly scheduled blood draws that are part of standard care for melanoma.
About 2 to 4 teaspoons of blood will be drawn for each research sample.
Depending on which group you are in, you will have either a one time blood draw or ongoing blood work for 1-2 years.
- Conditions
- Melanoma
- Keywords
- Biomarker, BRAF, blood-based
- Medical subject headings
- Melanoma
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Melanoma | For patients in the advanced melanoma cohort, a one-time blood sample will be obtained prior to the commencement of systemic therapy at a time when standard-of-care blood will be drawn. While it is ideal to obtain samples prior to any systemic therapy, participants who have previously received therapy, have progressed, and are in need of additional therapy will be considered suitable for participation. Participants with known BRAF mutation (determined by standard of care tissue testing) will undergo blood draws every 4 weeks (+/- 1 week) and at the time of disease progression. | |
| Stage II/III Melanoma | For patients in the high-risk stage II/III cohort, a blood draw will be performed 4-8 weeks after the completion of surgical management at the time of standard of care blood work. In participants who sign informed consent prior to definite surgical management, a pre-operative blood draw may be obtained at the time that standard of care pre-op blood work is performed. Blood samples will then be obtained every three months following the initiation of either adjuvant therapy or routine, close follow-up for up to two years. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Determine Sensitivity of Blood-Based Assay
The specificity and sensitivity of the blood-based assay will be determined vis-à-vis tissue-based BRAF analysis in patients with advanced and high-risk melanoma in order to provide BRAF-directed therapy when indicated. The sensitivity of an assay is expressed as the probability (as a percentage) that a sample tests positive for BRAF mutation given that the participant has BRAF mutation; it is used to assess the risk of false negative results. A percentage greater than 50% indicates that the test is a better predictor of sample diagnosis than random chance.
Measured: 2 years
Determine Specificity of Blood-Based Assay
The specificity and sensitivity of the blood-based assay will be determined vis-à-vis tissue-based BRAF analysis in patients with advanced and high-risk melanoma in order to provide BRAF-directed therapy when indicated. The specificity of an assay is expressed as the probability (as a percentage) that a test returns a negative result for BRAF mutation given that the that participant does not BRAF mutation; it is used to assess the risk of false positive results. A percentage greater than 50% indicates that the test is a better predictor of sample diagnosis than random chance.
Measured: 2 years
Secondary outcomes (2)
Explore Pharmacodynamic Effects of MAPK Pathway Inhibitors
To explore the pharmacodynamic effects of MAPK pathway inhibitors (including selective BRAF inhibitors, MEK inhibitors, and ERK inhibitors) utilizing pre-and on-treatment peripheral blood BRAFV600E mutational testing in participants with advanced melanoma.
Measured: 2 years
Define Prognostic Value of Peripheral Blood BRAFV600 Testing in Melanoma
To define the prognostic value of peripheral blood BRAFV600 mutational testing in participants with Stage II/III melanoma
Measured: 2 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Apr 2013 (estimated)
- Study startMay 2013
- Primary completion29 Mar 2017
- Study completionSep 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for MelanomaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Massachusetts General HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 220 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ryan J Sullivan, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Investigators
- Ryan Sullivan, MD, Principal investigator, Massachusetts General Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01840527
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 12-488
- Other IDs
- 1UH2CA207355
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 23 Apr 2013
- Last updated
- 14 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Exploring the Utility of a Novel BRAF Test in Patients With Melanoma
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01840527
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 12-488
- Conditions
- Melanoma
- Keywords
- Biomarker, BRAF, blood-based
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 220 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts General HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Study start
- May 2013 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 29 Mar 2017 (actual)
- Study completion
- Sep 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 25 Apr 2013 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 4 Sep 2024
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This primary purpose of this study is to obtain blood samples from participants with both early and later stages of melanoma (Stage II/III and Stage IV). The researchers hope to better understand an abnormal protein found in many melanoma tumors called the BRAFV600 mutation.
There will be two separate cohorts (groups) of participants on this study. You will be placed in one of the Groups.
Group 1-For participants with advanced melanoma: Your existing tumor tissue sample will be compared to the blood samples given in order to further analyze and to understand the BRAFV600E gene mutation.
Group 2-For participants with stage II/III melanoma: Following surgery, blood samples will be collected and analyzed.
Understanding the BRAFV600E gene mutation in melanoma will help the researchers better understand the disease, and help plan treatment options for people with melanoma of all stages in the future.
Detailed description
There will be no extra clinic visits for this study. These research blood samples will be drawn at the same time as your regularly scheduled blood draws that are part of standard care for melanoma.
About 2 to 4 teaspoons of blood will be drawn for each research sample.
Depending on which group you are in, you will have either a one time blood draw or ongoing blood work for 1-2 years.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Melanoma | – | –For patients in the advanced melanoma cohort, a one-time blood sample will be obtained prior to the commencement of systemic therapy at a time when standard-of-care blood will be drawn. While it is ideal to obtain samples prior to any systemic therapy, participants who have previously received therapy, have progressed, and are in need of additional therapy will be considered suitable for participation. Participants with known BRAF mutation (determined by standard of care tissue testing) will undergo blood draws every 4 weeks (+/- 1 week) and at the time of disease progression. |
| Stage II/III Melanoma | – | –For patients in the high-risk stage II/III cohort, a blood draw will be performed 4-8 weeks after the completion of surgical management at the time of standard of care blood work. In participants who sign informed consent prior to definite surgical management, a pre-operative blood draw may be obtained at the time that standard of care pre-op blood work is performed. Blood samples will then be obtained every three months following the initiation of either adjuvant therapy or routine, close follow-up for up to two years. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Patients being treated at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Biopsy proven advanced (unresectable stage IIIC or stage IV)or high risk (stage II or stage III) malignant melanoma
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- History of a different malignancy except for the following circumstances: disease-free for at least 2 years and deemed by the investigator to be at low risk for recurrence; or non-metastatic prostate cancer, cervical cancer in situ and basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma
- Known history of a different BRAF mutant malignancy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Determine Sensitivity of Blood-Based Assay
Time frame: 2 years
The specificity and sensitivity of the blood-based assay will be determined vis-à-vis tissue-based BRAF analysis in patients with advanced and high-risk melanoma in order to provide BRAF-directed therapy when indicated. The sensitivity of an assay is expressed as the probability (as a percentage) that a sample tests positive for BRAF mutation given that the participant has BRAF mutation; it is used to assess the risk of false negative results. A percentage greater than 50% indicates that the test is a better predictor of sample diagnosis than random chance.
Determine Specificity of Blood-Based Assay
Time frame: 2 years
The specificity and sensitivity of the blood-based assay will be determined vis-à-vis tissue-based BRAF analysis in patients with advanced and high-risk melanoma in order to provide BRAF-directed therapy when indicated. The specificity of an assay is expressed as the probability (as a percentage) that a test returns a negative result for BRAF mutation given that the that participant does not BRAF mutation; it is used to assess the risk of false positive results. A percentage greater than 50% indicates that the test is a better predictor of sample diagnosis than random chance.
2 secondary outcomes
Explore Pharmacodynamic Effects of MAPK Pathway Inhibitors
Time frame: 2 years
Define Prognostic Value of Peripheral Blood BRAFV600 Testing in Melanoma
Time frame: 2 years
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Sep 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
Related trials for Melanoma
Enrolling by invitationObservational study
Community Based Strategies for Early Detection of Melanoma
Melanoma
Active, not recruitingPhase 3
Dabrafenib and Trametinib Followed by Ipilimumab and Nivolumab or Ipilimumab and Nivolumab Followed by Dabrafenib and Trametinib in Treating Patients With Stage III-IV BRAFV600 Melanoma
Clinical Stage III Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v8, Clinical Stage IV Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v8
Active, not recruitingPhase 2
A Study to Compare the Administration of Pembrolizumab After Surgery Versus Administration Both Before and After Surgery for High-Risk Melanoma
Acral Lentiginous Melanoma, Clinical Stage III Cutaneous Melanoma AJCC v8
RecruitingObservational study
Clinical, Laboratory, and Epidemiologic Characterization of Individuals and Families at High Risk of Melanoma
Melanoma, Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome
RecruitingPhase 1
A Phase 1 Study to Evaluate OPB-201 in Recurrent Endometrial and Platinum-resistant Ovarian Cancer.
Endometrial Cancer Recurrent, Endometrial Cancer
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ryan Sullivan, MD principal investigator
Massachusetts General Hospital
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Melanoma, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 3 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 3 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 4 Sep 2024). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Determine Sensitivity of Blood-Based Assay (time frame: 2 years). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Sep 2026.