Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers

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What is skin cancer?

There are two main types of skin cancer: melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.

Non-melanoma skin cancers include basal cell skin cancer (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) named after the skin cells where the cancer develops. Non-melanoma skin cancers tend to develop on skin exposed to the sun.
Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in the UK accounting for 5% of all new cancer cases. Melanoma skin cancer starts in cells in the skin called melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its colour.

Melanoma research in Manchester

Melanoma is a key research focus for the Manchester Cancer Research Centre partnership. Scientists in Manchester lead national initiatives and collaborate on international projects to advance cutting-edge treatments. Clinicians are enhancing care standards for melanoma patients and are trailing innovative approaches, including radiotherapy, immunotherapy combinations, cell therapies, and advanced surgical techniques.

The MCRC Biobank plays a pivotal role in melanoma research by collecting tissue samples from patients. These samples enable the development of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and cell-derived xenograft (CDX) models, allowing researchers to study real-world melanoma biology in the laboratory.

At the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, scientists use advanced models to explore drug mechanisms and resistance, aiming to identify more effective treatment strategies.

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust boats a global reputation for the high quality of their melanoma treatment and research. The Christie has been heavily involved in various melanoma clinical trials and in the development of new drug treatments.

Melanoma research in Manchester - the CAcTUS clinical trial

Professor Paul Lorigan and Dr Rebecca Lee explain the purpose of the new CAcTUS clinical trial taking place at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester and how it can improve treatment outcomes for melanoma patients in the future.

A melanoma patient looking directly at the camera

Improving melanoma treatment options

At The University of Manchester, researchers are leading innovative studies to enhance treatment options for melanoma.

Dr Hurlstone and his team focus on understanding how melanoma develops resistance to therapies designed to activate the immune system against cancer. Their goal is to improve the effectiveness of these treatments for patients while identifying new drug targets to advance melanoma care.

Additionally, our scientists are playing a leading role in the DETECTION-2 clinical trial, which is trialling a pioneering blood test that can spot signs of melanoma returning. Professor Paul Lorigan and Dr Rebecca Lee are leading the trial and hopes the trial could lead to quicker diagnosis for people at risk of a relapse and also prevent people from having unnecessary treatment if their cancer is unlikely to return.

Future directions in melanoma research

Researchers in Manchester are leading the way in pioneering studies that could revolutionise how we diagnose, monitor, and treat melanoma. From refining existing treatments to exploring entirely new approaches, these studies aim to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Ongoing research studies

DyNAMIc Study: A Smarter Approach to Treatment

This study is testing a new way to deliver a standard melanoma treatment to make it more effective and delay drug resistance. Patients typically take two targeted therapies (encorafenib and binimetinib) daily, but over time, cancer cells can become resistant. Instead of continuous dosing, this study introduces a “stop-and-start” approach based on blood test results. By taking breaks, researchers hope to keep cancer cells sensitive to treatment for longer. The study will include 40 patients in the UK, with most following the new intermittent schedule and a smaller group continuing the standard daily treatment.

Immune-Tox Study: Understanding Long-Term Side Effects

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are powerful cancer treatments that help the immune system attack melanoma, but their long-term effects remain unclear. This study will follow patients who had melanoma removed and were treated with ICIs, comparing them to those who did not receive this therapy. Researchers will monitor for potential side effects, such as heart issues, other medical conditions, and changes in energy levels or overall well-being. The goal is to provide better guidance for doctors and patients in managing long-term health after treatment.

Mechanisms and Biomarkers Study: Unlocking the Secrets of Melanoma

To better understand why some melanoma treatments work better for certain patients, researchers are analysing patient samples – including tumour tissue, blood, and optional stool or mouth swabs. By using advanced lab techniques, they aim to uncover why some patients develop resistance to treatments. This knowledge will help personalise therapies, reduce unnecessary side effects, and improve survival rates. The study will run for 10 years, with each patient being monitored for five years.

Fertility Study: Protecting Reproductive Health

This study is exploring whether immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) affect fertility in men and women. Researchers will track fertility markers – such as egg count in women and sperm quality in men – before, during, and after treatment to determine any lasting effects. The findings will help patients make informed decisions about fertility preservation before starting treatment.

Key Questions for Future Research

Looking ahead, our researchers are committed to tackling some of the biggest challenges in melanoma treatment, including:

How can we treat less common and rare melanoma types, such as acral, mucosal and uveal melanomas?
Can we build upon previous mRNA technology to develop personalised vaccines to better treat melanoma?
How can we use biomarkers to test and identify melanoma skin cancer earlier?

Manchester Cancer Research Centre - Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers

The Case for Banning Sunbeds

A multi-disciplinary team of researchers across Manchester and Australia have assessed the cost-effectiveness of a policy-based intervention to ban sunbeds and its potential effectiveness in reducing the burden of skin cancer on the NHS.

Through this structured and transparent analysis, this team of researchers showed findings that not only provided a business case for the banning of sunbeds but used methods that could be applied in other areas.

The CAcTUS clinical trial

Led by Professor Paul Lorigan, Professor and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology, the CAcTUS trial is a multi-centre feasibility study that aims to determine the role of ctDNA in finding the best time to switch between targeted therapy and immune therapy for patients with advanced melanoma.

Researchers hope the trial will provide information about when to switch treatment, to ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Find out more

mRNA vaccine for melanoma

Researchers from Manchester are involved in a clinical trial for a personalised mRNA vaccine for melanoma skin cancer. The vaccine is custom-made for each person, identifying proteins unique to their cancer. It then uses the mRNA technology to prime the immune system to attack the cancer cells.

The trial is being conducted in eight centres across the UK, including Manchester. Patients must have had their high-risk melanoma surgically removed within the last 12 weeks.