Recruiting

Testing a new virus-based treatment injected into early melanoma tumors

Plain-English translation of NCT06216938 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated April 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Read our Melanoma research guide →

Phase 1 — Testing in a small group (usually 20–80 people) to find a safe dose and watch for side effects.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a new treatment called , which is a special virus designed to fight melanoma. The virus is injected directly into the tumor site after your initial biopsy, several weeks before your planned surgery. The goal is to strengthen your immune system's ability to fight the cancer and prevent it from spreading to nearby lymph nodes.

Melanoma commonly spreads to lymph nodes, and this spread is the most important factor in whether the cancer comes back. Researchers believe that by treating the tumor and its surrounding area with this virus-based therapy before surgery, they may be able to stop the cancer from spreading and improve long-term outcomes.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are at least 18 years old
you have been diagnosed with stage 3b or stage 4 melanoma on biopsy with visible tumor remaining or positive margins
you are in good enough health to handle the treatment (ECOG performance status 0 or 1)
you have normal organ function based on blood tests
you are willing to use effective birth control for 90 days after treatment if you can become pregnant or father children

You likely don't qualify if…

you have active or chronic hepatitis B or C infection, or HIV
you have had a serious infection requiring IV antibiotics within the past 2 weeks
you have active herpes simplex virus infections or a history of serious HSV complications like eye infections or brain inflammation
you are taking immunosuppressive steroid medications at higher doses
you have had major surgery within the past week

What participation looks like

You will receive three injections of the medication into your tumor biopsy site on day 1, day 15, and day 21. Between 4 and 5 weeks after your first injection, you will have your standard surgery to remove the melanoma and check your lymph nodes. The entire treatment phase lasts about 3–5 weeks, and you will have follow-up visits to monitor your health and watch for any side effects.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 18, 2026 · Not medical advice

Testing a new virus-based treatment injected into early melanoma tumors

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations