OBJECTIVES:
* Characterize the frequency of non-random cytogenetic abnormalities in regional and distant melanoma metastases and explore their association with clinical outcome of patients with metastatic melanoma.
* Characterize the frequency of specific genetic alterations at either the DNA, mRNA, or protein level and explore the association of these abnormalities with clinical outcome in these patients.
* Characterize the host immunologic response to metastatic melanoma by determining whether the in vivo pattern of cytokine expression is consistent with specific subsets of T helper cells within melanoma deposits and to explore whether host immunologic response varies based on the site of metastatic disease and/or correlates with clinical outcome in these patients.
* Obtain peripheral blood, sera, and paraffin embedded tumor blocks from these patients.
* Correlate the most prevalent gene copy alteration observed in metastatic disease with the risk of progression in tissue samples from patients registered on SWOG-9035 (primary melanoma).
OUTLINE: Fresh and snap frozen tumor tissue samples are obtained from biopsy or surgical procedures in the coordinated study. Specimens undergo mRNA and DNA analysis of tumor-related genes and cytokine gene expression. Peripheral blood samples are obtained and processed for sera and mononuclear cell testing. Tumor tissue samples embedded in paraffin or on unstained slides are also obtained.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 120 patients will be accrued for this study within 3-4 years.
