Advanced MR of Metastatic Melanoma in Brain
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Prognostic Value of Advanced MRI for Metastatic Melanoma within the Brain
IRAS ID
179235
Contact name
Anthony Maraveyas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that is often seen to spread (metastasise) to the brain. When this happens, the outlook for patients is particularly poor, with expected survival of only a few weeks to months. Mutations of the BRAF gene, a key part of a cell signalling pathway controlling cell growth in the body, are reported in approximately 50% of melanoma patients. These patients are currently treated with a BRAF inhibitor drug, such as vemurafenib or dabrafenib, as standard; however the responses to these drugs vary, and the development of resistance is common. This study seeks to use advanced magnetic resonance (MR) techniques to measure differences between patients with and without a BRAF mutation, and to determine whether a signal can be detected that may help to predict their response to targeted agents.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/YH/0403
Date of REC Opinion
10 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion