Improving melanoma treatment through better patient selection and combination therapies

SPORE in Skin Cancer

NIH-funded research Wistar Institute · NIH-10913366

This study is looking for ways to improve melanoma treatment by finding blood tests that can help doctors decide if patients should get one type of immunotherapy or a combination of treatments, aiming to minimize side effects and also testing a new therapy for those who don’t respond to the usual treatments.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWistar Institute NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-10913366 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing melanoma treatment by identifying effective biomarkers that can help determine whether patients should receive single-agent or combination immunotherapy. It aims to reduce unnecessary exposure to the side effects of combination therapies by using blood-based measurements to predict patient responses to anti-PD-1 antibody treatments. Additionally, the research explores a new combination therapy that targets the autophagy pathway, potentially benefiting patients who do not respond to standard anti-PD-1 treatments.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include high-risk melanoma patients who are considering immunotherapy options.

Not a fit: Patients with melanoma who are not eligible for immunotherapy or those with advanced disease stages may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more personalized and effective treatment options for melanoma patients, minimizing side effects and improving outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using biomarkers for patient selection in immunotherapy, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.