Melanoma Clinical Trials.

Malignant melanoma is a cancer that begins in the skin’s pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) and can appear anywhere on the skin, including less obvious places such as the palms, soles, under the nails, or even in the eye (ocular melanoma).

It encompasses a variety of forms including superficial spreading melanoma, nodular melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma and spitzoid melanoma — as well as rarer types such as mucosal melanoma and ocular melanoma. These sub-types vary in how they grow and where they appear, but they all share the characteristic of uncontrolled melanocyte growth. Early removal offers very good outcomes, but if spread occurs, the condition becomes more serious.

In the UK there are around 17,600 new cases of melanoma skin cancer each year (2017-19 average). It is the 5th most common cancer overall. While not extremely rare, its incidence has been rising steadily and this means that vigilance and early detection remain very important.

Melanoma becomes more common with increasing age, with people aged 75 and over accounting for nearly 30% of new cases. It can also affect younger adults, particularly those with fair skin, many moles, or significant UV exposure. Men tend to have higher death rates than women, possibly because their cancers are often diagnosed at a later stage.