Gene Test May Reduce Melanoma Follow-Up Clinic Visits
Adults with low-risk melanoma may safely transition to dermatology care, reducing the need for recurring oncology appointments.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Cancer
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Researchers in Portland found that using a 31-gene expression profile to identify low-risk melanoma patients may safely reduce the need for frequent follow-up clinic visits. By stratifying care for these patients, clinicians saved over 2,000 clinic visits between 2017 and 2024.
Why it matters
Extensive follow-up schedules in surgical oncology are intended to catch distant progression, but they can place a significant burden on patients with low-risk disease. This approach allows some patients to shift to dermatology-only care without compromising clinical safety.
A retrospective study of 584 patients with negative sentinel lymph node biopsies found only 2 locoregional recurrences among 381 double-negative patients over a median follow-up of 38 months. High-risk gene expression groups experienced 20 total recurrences, though findings remain preliminary.
The players
Oregon Health & Science University
A research institution in Portland that specializes in oncology and medical innovation.
JAMA Surgery
A peer-reviewed medical journal that publishes original research on surgical science and practice.
The details
The 31-gene expression profile classifies tumors based on biological risk, allowing researchers to define double-negative patients as those with both AJCC low-risk staging and class 1A gene expression results. By identifying these patients, surgical teams were able to discharge them to dermatology-only care rather than maintaining standard surgical oncology follow-up. This shift aims to reduce the volume of unnecessary surveillance while ensuring those at higher risk remain under intensive observation.
Timeline
2017: Policy implementation began at Oregon Health & Science University.
September 2017 to November 2024: Study period for clinical visit data.
October 21, 2026: Research published in JAMA Surgery.
Health Landscape
Current NCCN melanoma follow-up guidelines often mandate frequent interval check-ups for patients who have undergone sentinel lymph node biopsies. This study marks a departure from that standard by utilizing molecular profiling to safely reduce the intensity of clinical surveillance.
If you have been diagnosed with melanoma, you may want to ask your oncologist if molecular risk stratification is appropriate for your care plan. This conversation can help determine if your follow-up schedule could be safely adjusted based on your specific tumor profile.
The takeaway
Using molecular profiling can help tailor surveillance schedules to a patient's actual risk level rather than relying on one-size-fits-all intervals. Patients should speak with their primary care physician or oncologist about whether gene expression testing is a valid option for their specific diagnosis.
Further reading
For more information on current protocols, visit Cancer.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cancer Therapy Advisor.
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