The Multicentre Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial - 3

Launched by MELANOMA INSTITUTE AUSTRALIA · Jun 30, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new way to manage Stage III melanoma, a type of skin cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes. After receiving about six weeks of immunotherapy (treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer), patients will have surgery to remove affected lymph nodes. The trial is comparing two types of surgery: one that removes only the largest affected lymph node (called selective lymph node removal) versus the standard surgery that removes many lymph nodes in the area (called therapeutic lymph node dissection). The goal is to see if the less extensive surgery works just as well in preventing the cancer from coming back over two years. Researchers also want to find out if the smaller surgery leads to fewer side effects like wound problems or swelling, improves quality of life, and uses fewer healthcare resources.

People eligible for this trial are adults with confirmed Stage III melanoma that involves certain lymph nodes in the groin, armpit, or neck area. To join, patients must be fit enough to receive immunotherapy and have lymph nodes that can be surgically removed. They cannot have distant cancer spread or other certain health issues like active infections, autoimmune diseases, or previous extensive lymph node surgery in the same area. If you take part, you will first receive immunotherapy for up to six weeks, followed by one of the two types of lymph node surgery. The study will then monitor your recovery, cancer status, and quality of life over time. This trial aims to find a treatment approach that is just as effective but with fewer side effects and better overall patient experience.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Male or female patients ≥ 18 years of age at the time of consent
• • 2. Written informed consent
• • 3. Cytologically or histologically confirmed, resectable pathological Stage IIIB, C or D (Any T, N1b, N2b, N2c, N3b, or N3c) cutaneous or unknown primary melanoma, with or without primary tumour in situ
• 4. A minimum of one macroscopic lymph node, defined as:
• • A palpable node, confirmed by pathology
• • A non-palpable node, but enlarged per RECIST 1.1 criteria (≥ 15 mm in shortest diameter) and confirmed by pathology
• • An ultrasound or PET/CT scan positive lymph node of any size, confirmed by pathology.
• • 5. Up to 3 satellite (defined as any foci of clinically evident cutaneous and/or subcutaneous metastases occurring within 2 cm of but discontinuous from the primary melanoma) or in-transit metastases (defined as clinically evident cutaneous and/or subcutaneous metastases occurring \>2 cm from the primary melanoma in the region between the primary and the regional lymph node basin) are permitted if they are completely resectable.
• • 6. Lymph node involvement in the groin (iliac, inguinal or both), axilla or neck only and may be unilateral or bilateral. Concurrent popliteal, epitrochlear or triangular intermuscular space (TIS) nodes permitted, as long as fully resectable.
• • 7. Tumour amenable to a newly obtained core biopsy of a lesion which has not been previously irradiated. Archival tissue from a past primary or nodal lesion (if applicable) or tissue taken for current diagnosis will also be collected if available.
• • 8. Systemic neoadjuvant immunotherapy is scheduled for administration with at least one PD-(L)-1 check point inhibitor (e.g. nivolumab, pembrolizumab, cemiplimab). The immunotherapy regimen may include other checkpoint inhibitors (e.g. ipilimumab, relatlimab, fianlimab). The patient should meet the fitness for treatment requirements as detailed in the relevant regulatory-approved Product Information or Summary of Product Characteristics.
• • 9. Neoadjuvant course of treatment to be no longer than 6 weeks (allows for a maximum of 3 cycles at weeks 0, 3 and 6).
• • 10. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1.
• • 11. Anticipated life expectancy of \> 5 years.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Uveal or mucosal melanoma.
• • 2. Isolated satellite or in-transit metastases only (without any cytological or histological proven lymph node involvement).
• • 3. Involvement of any lymph node basin other than groin, axilla or neck. Concurrent popliteal, epitrochlear or triangular intermuscular space (TIS) nodes permitted, as long as fully resectable.
• • 4. Clinical or radiographic evidence of distant metastasis (any AJCC 8th ed M Stage).
• • 5. Previous history of lymph node surgery to the same nodal basin, that was more extensive than a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB).
• • 6. Previous radiotherapy to the same nodal basin.
• • 7. Any contraindication to the administration of nivolumab, ipilimumab, pembrolizumab or relatlimab per regulatory-approved product information and / or medical oncologist.
• • 8. Prior anti-PD-1, CTLA-4, PDL-1 or LAG 3 antibody exposure, or an agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T-cell receptor for any disease or any chemotherapy or experimental local or systemic drug treatment.
• • 9. A plan to administer targeted therapy or any non-checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy, or any intralesional therapy for melanoma in the neoadjuvant setting.
• • 10. A plan to administer any experimental immunotherapy as part of a clinical trial in the neoadjuvant setting.
• 11. Known additional malignancies (unless adequately treated) active within the previous 3 years, except for locally curable cancers that have been apparently cured. The following malignancies, if undergone successful definitive resection or curative treatment, are permitted:
• • Basal cell carcinoma of the skin
• • Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
• • Carcinoma in situ (e.g. breast carcinoma, cervical cancer in situ, but excluding carcinoma in situ of the bladder) that have undergone potentially curative therapy
• • Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia
• • In situ melanoma
• • Atypical melanocytic hyperplasia
• • Stage I melanoma
• • Other malignancies for which the patient has been disease free for 3 years, not requiring active anti-cancer therapy.
• 12. An active autoimmune disease or a requirement for chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 14 days prior to the first dose of study treatment. The following are permitted:
• • Replacement therapy (e.g. thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc)
• • Inhaled or intranasal corticosteroids (with minimal systemic absorption) may be continued if patient is on a stable dose
• • Non-absorbed intra-articular steroid injections.
• • 13. Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant.
• • 14. Active Hepatitis B (defined as Hepatitis B surface antigen \[HBsAg\] reactive) or Hepatitis C virus (defined as HCV RNA \[qualitative\] is detected) infection. Note: no testing for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C is required unless mandated by local health authority.
• • 15. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Note: no testing for HIV is required unless mandated by local health authority.
• • 16. Pregnant or breastfeeding females.
• • 17. Concurrent medical or social conditions that may prevent the patient from attending assessments or procedures per schedule.