NICAM clinical trial

ISRCTN 39058880

NICAM is a clinical trial of Nilotinib for patients with advanced acral or mucosal melanoma.

This study forms part of the National Institute of Health Research Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN) portfolio of approved studies. This research is funded by Cancer Research UK and Novartis.

Background

It has been found that in approximately 20% of patients diagnosed with either an acral (starting under a nail or on the palms or soles of the feet) or mucosal (starting in the lining of a body cavity) melanoma, there is a mutation (a permanent change in the composition of a gene) in the cell signalling molecule c-KIT. This mutation causes cells to grow, divide and spread in an uncontrolled way.

Nilotinib is a drug given in tablet form which blocks c-KIT and so, hopefully, stops cancer cells from growing and dividing.

Eligibility

Individuals may be suitable for this trial if they have an acral or mucosal melanoma that has spread and if a c-KIT mutation is present. Testing for a c-KIT mutation is done to see if an individual is eligible for the trial; this testing is done on original tumour samples which are obtained from hospital pathology archives; a fresh biopsy is rarely necessary.

Find out more

If you or someone you know may be interested in this study and would like further information then please ask your own doctor or contact Dr Larkin’s secretary on 020 7808 2103.