How nearby lymph nodes influence melanoma spread
Project 3: The Evolving Role of Regional Lymph Nodes in Melanoma Progression
Finding out whether changes in the lymph nodes near a melanoma help the cancer spread, to improve care for people with melanoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143056 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will examine the lymph nodes that drain a melanoma to map cellular and molecular changes that happen over time. They will combine high-resolution imaging with molecular profiling on sentinel lymph node samples and complementary lab models to build a detailed spatial and temporal map. By comparing early and later changes, the team aims to see whether those lymph nodes prime the body to allow tumors to grow elsewhere. The work could point to markers that predict spread or new ways to stop metastasis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with melanoma who are having or may have sentinel lymph node sampling or removal, especially those with small or unclear nodal disease.
Not a fit: Patients without melanoma or those with widespread distant metastases are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve decisions about lymph node surgery and reveal new targets to prevent melanoma spread.
How similar studies have performed: Clinical trials have shown that removing tiny nodal disease does not always improve survival, and using deep spatial and molecular mapping of sentinel nodes is a more recent approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lund, Amanda W. — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Lund, Amanda W.
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 below.