The UVA Cancer Center has a research study for people with advanced melanoma who are getting immune therapy and plan to have cancer surgery.
The goal of this study is to learn about the safety of an experimental treatment for melanoma. The treatment is made up of two parts:
1) Focused ultrasound ablation (FUSA): An experimental non-invasive treatment that uses ultrasound waves to heat and destroy some of the tumor
2) A shot into the tumor with an experimental drug called polyICLC. This drug activates the immune system.
This study will help researchers learn how the study treatment affects the tumor and the area around it.
The drug and the FUSA machine that are used in this study have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
People in this study will:
• Have the study treatment before the cancer surgery that they will get as part of their regular care.
• Have an ultrasound picture that is taken to measure how stiff their tumor is.
Some people may need to have a biopsy before the study treatment. All people in the study can choose to have biopsies taken after the study treatment.
Study procedures are given at no cost.
Visit clinicaltrials.gov or email the study team at uvacancertrials@uvahealth.org to learn more.
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