The DecisionDx®-Melanoma test offers a precise look at a patient’s unique tumor biology, and enables patients and their care providers to co-create a personalized care plan.
Leah Adams’ father had just had a melanoma lesion removed when her mother noticed an unusual mole on Leah’s chest. Less than a month later, during her first-ever skin check, Leah’s dermatologist removed the suspicious mole and sent it off for review and analysis. It came back as a stage 1A malignant melanoma tumor.
As Leah, 26, recovered from surgery to remove the cancerous tissue surrounding the melanoma, her doctor suggested that she have the DecisionDx-Melanoma genomic test from Castle Biosciences run on her tumor.
The test, available for anyone diagnosed with stage I-III cutaneous melanoma, is designed to help answer two critical questions in melanoma management: What is the likelihood that a patient’s cancer will return or spread (“metastasize” in medical terms)? And what is their likelihood of having melanoma present in the sentinel lymph node (SLN)? SLNs are small immune system organs closest to a tumor, and understanding the likelihood that melanoma has spread to the SLN helps doctors estimate whether the melanoma has started to spread to other parts of the body.
Leah reflected on her decision to take the test. “It can be scary to think about,” she said. “Will it come back low risk? Will it come back high risk?” To her relief, her results revealed there was a low risk that her cancer would spread or return. “But,” she added, “no matter what your result is going to be, it can give you the next steps and information, and education and awareness that you will need to move forward.”
Personalized medicine for a personalized world
Shannon C. Trotter, D.O., FAOCD, FAAD
Board-Certified Dermatologist, DOCS Dermatology; Host, “Derm-it Trotter! Don’t Swear About Skincare” Podcast
“Not all melanomas are created equal,” explained community dermatologist Dr. Shannon Trotter. With DecisionDx-Melanoma, “we’re going to have a better understanding of how your melanoma is different from anyone else’s, which can help us tailor a treatment plan exactly for you.”
The traditional risk assessment for melanoma, which puts people into large risk categories based on characteristics like age, biological sex, or tumor size, can fail to identify patients with a high risk of their cancer coming back. In contrast, the DecisionDx-Melanoma genomic test is designed to provide a comprehensive, personalized risk assessment by analyzing a small tissue sample of a patient’s tumor — which can be taken from a patient’s original biopsy. The test checks for activity of 31 specific genes, integrating the patient’s tumor biology with clinical and pathologic factors to determine their unique predicted risk profile.
Armed with this information, patients and their care providers can make a more precise melanoma management plan. A patient’s predicted risk that melanoma has spread to the SLN may influence decisions on whether to recommend biopsy of the SLN. A patient’s risk of recurrence may drive management decisions, including frequency and intensity of follow-up, as well as care team needs. For example, a patient with a lower risk profile may meet with their dermatologist rather than a surgical oncologist.
Broadly in the healthcare space, the test helps doctors focus resources on the patients who need them the most.
Knowledge is power — and peace of mind
While, like Leah experienced, it can be scary to contemplate a high-risk result, Dr. Trotter shared that her patients always feel better when armed with information. For high-risk patients, the test “gives you the ability to prepare. And preparing gives you a sense of control over the condition.” She added, “The DecisionDx-Melanoma genomic test is the only melanoma test associated with improved rates of survival. But what you see is not just improved physical health outcomes, but a profound impact on patients’ mental health.”
For Leah, knowing there was a low risk that her cancer would return gave her clarity and a sense of calm when her father’s melanoma made an aggressive comeback. Amidst the renewed fear and uncertainty, she could focus on supporting her father rather than worrying about her own health.
Castle Biosciences is committed to providing high-quality molecular testing to all patients diagnosed with melanoma and does not want financial concerns to be a barrier to patients accessing critical healthcare information. Castle Biosciences works with all insurance providers to secure coverage and offers additional financial assistance for those who may need it.
Leah urges anyone with stage I-III melanoma to ask their doctor about the test. “If you have access to information that can help you live a better life, take it.”
To learn more, visit MyMelanoma.com
