Dr. Alan Bryce on Molecular Testing in Metastatic or High-Risk Stage III Melanoma

Alan H. Bryce, MD, medical oncologist, Mayo Clinic, discusses the need for molecular testing in patients with metastatic or high-risk stage III melanoma.

There are various professional opinions on when molecular testing is appropriate for these patients, Bryce explains. However, by doing comprehensive sequencing of tumors at each stage, researchers are able to gather more knowledge on decreasing the risk of disease recurrence by defining who does not require treatment. It also increases benefit to patients by accelerating drug development.

From an economic perspective, Bryce explains that because molecular testing is expensive, patient selection is imperative.

Ultimately, Bryce says, clinicians should decide if molecular testing is necessary for a patient's situation and how high his/her risk is of disease recurrence. Frequently, both clinicians and patients will decide that molecular testing is needed, he says.