Enhanced Risk Stratification for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Head and Neck Melanoma Using the Merlin Assay (CP-GEP).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for head and neck melanomas involves complex challenges due to intricate lymphatic networks and delicate anatomic structures. The Merlin Assay (CP-GEP), merging clinicopathologic data with gene expression profiling, offers a non-invasive method to identify patients who have a low risk for nodal metastasis, potentially sparing these low-risk patients from surgical procedures.

Methods

This study evaluated 250 clinically node-negative patients with stage I, II, or III melanoma from the Mayo Clinic and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center who had tumors in the head and neck region diagnosed between 2004 and 2021. All the patients underwent SLNB. The Merlin Assay, using the CP-GEP model, combines patient age at diagnosis, Bres

SUBMITTER: Pazhava A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12255597 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature