Gene Expression Profile Testing in Melanoma
Learn how gene expression profile testing in melanoma personalizes risk assessment and guides staging, surveillance, and shared decision-making.
Overview
Successful treatment decision-making for melanoma and other cancers is dependent on assessing the risk of lymph node involvement. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is considered to be the standard for staging melanoma; however, cancer is not found in the nodes of the majority of patients. Gene expression (GEP) testing is an important option to identify patients who may avoid undergoing SLNB and provide a personalized risk assessment to help guide decisions regarding staging and surveillance. As a result, these tests are integral to optimize shared decision-making.
What Healthcare Providers Should Know About GEP Testing
- What genomic/gene expression profile testing is
- What the goals of testing are
- Which tests are available and how they differ
- Data supporting the use of these tests
- How the tests are discussed in association guidelines
- Which patients are appropriate candidates for testing
- How to explain these tests and their benefits to patients
- Watch the Video Program on GEP Testing in Melanoma
Watch AIM’s video program on gene expression profile testing in melanoma, featuring Vernon Sondak, MD, and Tina J. Hieken, MD. Through two clinical case studies, they examine the evolving evidence for gene expression profiling in predicting sentinel lymph node status and its potential role in supporting sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) decision-making in selected patients.
The program is designed to help healthcare professionals understand the current evidence, consider where gene expression profiling may provide additional information alongside established clinicopathologic factors, and recognize the limitations and areas where further research is needed.
Watch the full program below, or select a specific section to explore key topics from the discussion.
This educational program is intended for healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with melanoma.
Drs. Vernon Sondak and Tina J. Hieken discuss the evolving role of gene expression profiling in predicting sentinel lymph node status in early-stage melanoma. Through case-based discussion and findings from the prospective MERLIN_001 study, they examine where CP-GEP testing may provide additional information to support sentinel lymph node biopsy decision-making in selected patients.
Drs. Vernon Sondak and Tina J. Hieken examine a patient with Stage IB melanoma to explore sentinel lymph node biopsy decision-making. They discuss estimated sentinel lymph node positivity risk, the limitations of clinical nomograms, patient age and comorbidities, and how gene expression profiling may provide additional information to support shared decision-making in selected patients.
Drs. Vernon Sondak and Tina J. Hieken examine a young patient with T1a melanoma and adverse clinicopathologic features to explore whether sentinel lymph node biopsy should be considered. They discuss the limitations of traditional risk estimates and how gene expression profiling may provide additional information to help guide decision-making in carefully selected patients.