Cognitive Effects of Interferon in Patients With Melanoma

Completed

Conditions studied: Melanoma

In brief

Interferon alpha is the only approved adjuvant biologic therapy for individuals diagnosed with high risk malignant melanoma (stage 2 or 3). There is evidence that interferon has some adverse cognitive effects on patients, but there are limited data. The investigators hypothesis is that compared to patients with melanoma who do not receive interferon, patients who have melanoma and are treated with interferon will show an objective decrease in performance on neurocognitive assessment. This study will enroll patients with melanoma who qualify for interferon, and either decide to undergo interferon treatment or choose watchful waiting instead. All patients will be assessed with a cognitive testing battery twice. Observation patients will undergo testing at their first appointment in which they consent to the study, as well as at their next physician visit, approximately 3 months from the first visit. Interferon patients will be tested immediately prior to starting interferon, as well as immediately after completing high dose interferon.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02074605

Run by

University of Arizona

People needed

36

Starts

2008-07-01

Expected to finish

2010-05-01

Last updated by the study team

2014-02-28

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Patients diagnosed with high risk malignant melanoma (defined as American Joint Committee on Cancer Stage IIb or greater) electing to undergo treatment with either adjuvant interferon alpha-2b, or observation only.
• Age 18 years or older.
• Karnofsky performance status greater than 60.
• Fluent English speaker.

You may not qualify if…

• History of neurologic or psychiatric disease that will affect patient's ability to complete protocol tests.
• Clinical or radiological evidence of brain metastasis.
• Any condition, which in the opinion of the investigator makes the subject unsuitable for study participation.

Where it is running

• University of Arizona — Tucson, Arizona, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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