Trial Information

Cytogenetic, Molecular and Cellular Biology Studies in Metastatic Melanoma Patients, Ancillary

OBJECTIVES:

- Characterize the frequency of non-random cytogenetic abnormalities in regional and
distant melanoma metastases and explore their association with clinical outcome of
patients with metastatic melanoma.

- Characterize the frequency of specific genetic alterations at either the DNA, mRNA, or
protein level and explore the association of these abnormalities with clinical outcome
in these patients.

- Characterize the host immunologic response to metastatic melanoma by determining
whether the in vivo pattern of cytokine expression is consistent with specific subsets
of T helper cells within melanoma deposits and to explore whether host immunologic
response varies based on the site of metastatic disease and/or correlates with clinical
outcome in these patients.

- Obtain peripheral blood, sera, and paraffin embedded tumor blocks from these patients.

- Correlate the most prevalent gene copy alteration observed in metastatic disease with
the risk of progression in tissue samples from patients registered on SWOG-9035
(primary melanoma).

OUTLINE: Fresh and snap frozen tumor tissue samples are obtained from biopsy or surgical
procedures in the coordinated study. Specimens undergo mRNA and DNA analysis of
tumor-related genes and cytokine gene expression. Peripheral blood samples are obtained and
processed for sera and mononuclear cell testing. Tumor tissue samples embedded in paraffin
or on unstained slides are also obtained.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 120 patients will be accrued for this study within 3-4
years.