Research Areas

Scientists in the NYU Cancer Institute Melanoma Research Program are focusing on the following areas of study:

Risk Factors and Prognostic Markers for Melanoma 

• NY-ESO-1 expression in melanoma prognosis and survival 
• Immunologic potential of NY-ESO-1 as a treatment target 
• Over-expression of NEP in the progression of cutaneous melanoma 
• BRAF and N-RAS mutations in metastatic melanoma 
• Novel approaches for screening melanoma (such as the MelaFind® computerized skin imaging system and the C.A.S.H. algorithm for dermoscopy) 

Molecular Defects Associated with Melanoma Progression and Drug Resistance

• Molecular classification of melanoma: role of microRNAs and small RNAs in interfering with the translation of coding messenger RNAs 

Novel Immunotherapeutic Approaches to Melanoma Treatment

• Multiple studies of dendritic cells (DC) as immunotherapeutic agents to treat melanoma

Melanoma Biologics, Inhibitors, and Chemotherapy 

• Investigator-initiated, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and industry-supported clinical trials evaluating novel biologics, inhibitors, and chemotherapeutic combinations

Adoptive T-Cell Therapy for Melanoma 

• Incorporation of adoptive delivery of tumor antigen-specific T cells into immunotherapy