Maximizing Impact and Utility of Prognostic Gene Testing in Melanoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma
An expert explores how prognostic gene expression testing enhances risk stratification and guides personalized treatment in melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and also shares clinical insights and practice pearls from my experience using these tests.
EP. 1: Limitations and Challenges in Skin Cancer Staging Systems
March 21st 2025An expert discusses the patient demographics and clinical features used in traditional staging and risk classification of melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), examining how staging systems from organizations like the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) align in risk classification, the challenges of relying solely on clinical features for prognosis, and the importance of accurate risk staging in guiding treatment decisions for these cancers.
EP. 2: Utility of Molecular Testing in Skin Cancer Risk Assessment
March 21st 2025An expert discusses the qualities of genetic tests that are most important to clinicians seeking precise and reliable results for melanoma diagnosis and prognosis, and reviews the 31-gene expression profile (GEP) test, highlighting its ability to classify melanoma risk into 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B, with 1A patients showing higher melanoma-specific survival (MSS) and overall survival (OS), while 1B/2A and 2B classifications serve as independent predictors of MSS and OS, noting that patients who underwent 31-GEP testing had lower mortality compared with untested patients.
