Characterizing the psychological symptoms in melanoma patients on immunotherapy
Official title: Characterization of the Symptom Experience of Patients with Cutaneous Melanoma Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11402003 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study follows adults with advanced skin cancer who are starting immune checkpoint therapy to understand the pattern of emotional and psychological symptoms they experience.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $153,453 |
| NIH project number | 5R00CA286967-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402003 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+ years) with stage IIB–IV cutaneous melanoma about to start their first immune checkpoint inhibitor cycle.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not planning to receive immunotherapy or not part of the specified melanoma stages may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This study enrolls adults with stage IIB to IV cutaneous melanoma before their first immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment and follows them through three treatment cycles. Researchers will track how psychological symptoms cluster together over time and look for demographic and clinical factors that influence these patterns. The goal is to better understand what patients experience during immunotherapy so clinicians can anticipate needs and improve care. The study uses a longitudinal design to observe changes as treatment progresses, rather than relying on a single snapshot. Results could guide supportive care strategies for people receiving modern cancer therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help doctors tailor supportive care to reduce psychological distress during immunotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has identified psychological symptom clusters in chemotherapy and other treatments, but this study focuses on immunotherapy in melanoma, which is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harris, Carolyn Stigge — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Harris, Carolyn Stigge
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.