Clinical trial finder
Clinical trials are research studies that test new or improved treatments for melanoma. Participating in a trial may give you access to cutting-edge therapies before they are widely available, while contributing to research that helps future patients.
There is no single answer — it depends on your stage, prior treatments, and what is open near you. Joining a trial is always voluntary, you can withdraw at any time, and your standard care is never withheld if you choose not to take part. The best next step is simply to ask your oncologist whether an open trial might suit your situation.
What are clinical trials?
A clinical trial is a research study that evaluates a medical treatment in people. Melanoma trials include:
- Phase I — First-in-human dose-finding studies (small groups, typically advanced cancer).
- Phase II — Effectiveness and safety in a larger group (often specific stage or mutation).
- Phase III — Comparison against current standard of care (large, often randomised). These are the trials most likely to change guidelines.
- Adjuvant trials — Testing treatments after surgery to reduce recurrence risk (most relevant for Stage IIB–III disease).
Participating in a trial is voluntary and you can withdraw at any time. Your standard care is never withheld if you choose not to participate.
Trial registries — where to search
Use the registries below to search for open studies. Filter by your country, cancer stage, BRAF mutation status, and prior treatments.
The US National Library of Medicine registry of clinical studies worldwide. This link is pre-filtered to show actively-recruiting melanoma trials only.
NHS-affiliated registry of UK clinical research studies open to patients. Search by condition, location, or trial phase.
The UK melanoma patient charity maintains a curated list of melanoma clinical trials open to UK patients, with plain-language summaries.
Official European register of clinical trials conducted in the EU/EEA. Covers trials including those not yet listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Aggregates registries from 17 countries. Useful for finding trials in Australia, Asia and the Americas.
Key melanoma trials — landmark and recruiting
The table below lists key Phase 3 melanoma trials — both landmark completed studies (which established current standard-of-care treatments) and trials currently recruiting patients. Always verify current status at clinicaltrials.gov before acting on this information. Last reviewed: May 2026.
| NCT | Trial / Treatment | Phase | Who is eligible | Geography | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT03470922 | RELATIVITY-047 — nivolumab + relatlimab (Opdualag) vs nivolumab alone | Phase 3 | Unresectable/metastatic (Stage III–IV), first-line, any BRAF status | Global (US / EU / UK) | Completed |
| NCT03553836 | KEYNOTE-716 — pembrolizumab adjuvant vs placebo (Stage IIB/IIC) | Phase 3 | Resected Stage IIB or IIC, first-line adjuvant, any BRAF status | Global (US / EU / UK) | Active — follow-up only |
| NCT01844505 | CheckMate 067 — nivolumab + ipilimumab vs nivolumab (long-term follow-up) | Phase 3 | Unresectable/metastatic (Stage III–IV), first-line, any BRAF status | Global | Active — follow-up only |
| NCT03070392 | IMCgp100-202 — tebentafusp vs investigator's choice (uveal melanoma) | Phase 3 | Metastatic uveal melanoma, HLA-A*02:01 positive, first-line | Global (US / EU / UK) | Completed |
| NCT02278887 | TILL study — TIL therapy vs ipilimumab (advanced melanoma) | Phase 3 | Unresectable/metastatic, anti-PD-1-refractory | Europe (Netherlands-led) | Completed |
| NCT04551716 | Fianlimab + cemiplimab vs pembrolizumab (first-line advanced melanoma) | Phase 3 | Unresectable/metastatic (Stage III–IV), first-line, any BRAF status | Global (US / EU) | Recruiting |
This is a curated selection — not a complete list. Use the registries above to search for all open trials by stage, mutation status, and geography. Verify eligibility and current recruitment status with your oncologist before acting.
Tips for talking to your team
- 💡 Ask before starting standard therapy — some trials require that you have not yet received certain treatments. Ask your oncologist or specialist nurse whether an open trial is available at your centre before you begin adjuvant therapy.
- Ask whether your tumour has been tested for BRAF V600E/K mutation — many targeted-therapy and combination trials require a known BRAF status.
- Bring a printed or bookmarked list of trials you found to your next appointment — your team can tell you whether you meet the eligibility criteria.
- UK patients: your NHS specialist team can refer you to a trial site; you do not need to contact trial coordinators directly in most cases.
This page links to publicly-available registries and shows auto-verified status for a curated set of landmark trials. It does not provide a personalised trial-matching service. Discuss eligibility with your oncologist.