Clinical trials · California
Melanoma clinical trials in California
We’re tracking 71 recruiting melanoma studies with a site in California — including Phase 1, Phase 1/Phase 2, Phase 2, Phase 2/Phase 3 and Phase 3 studies, each written for real people, not researchers.
Recruiting studies in California
- NCT04511013RecruitingPhase 2
Trial for BRAF-mutant melanoma spread to the brain
This Phase 2 study tests whether a 3-drug plan (encorafenib + binimetinib + nivolumab) works better than ipilimumab + nivolumab for melanoma that has spread to the brain. If you qualify, you’ll get either treatment and have frequent brain scans to track how well it controls the tumors.
Emeryville, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05136196RecruitingPhase 2
Cabozantinib plus nivolumab for advanced melanoma or head-neck cancer
This trial tests whether combining two immunotherapy medicines—cabozantinib and nivolumab—can shrink advanced melanoma or certain head-and-neck squamous cell cancers. It is mainly for people whose cancer has grown after prior PD-1 treatment.
Beverly Hills, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04119024RecruitingPhase 1
Gene-edited immune cells for advanced melanoma or solid tumors
This Phase 1 study tests a gene-modified immune cell treatment for advanced cancers that don’t have standard curative options. It may help by attacking cancer cells that show a specific marker called IL13Rα2 after patients receive “conditioning” chemotherapy to prepare the immune system.
Stanford, CaliforniaAges 18–75 - NCT05655312RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Targeted radiation melanoma treatment with or without nivolumab
This early-stage study tests whether a targeted radioactive drug can shrink advanced melanoma, either alone or along with nivolumab (an immune-activating medicine). You may be eligible if your melanoma shows a specific target on scan imaging and has progressed despite prior melanoma treatments.
Orange, CaliforniaAges 18–90 - NCT06624644RecruitingPhase 2/Phase 3
LNS8801 with or without pembrolizumab for advanced melanoma
This trial tests a new drug called LNS8801, alone or with pembrolizumab, for people with advanced melanoma that has stopped responding to prior treatments, especially anti-PD-1 therapy.
Newport Beach, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06771544RecruitingPhase 2
Cyclophosphamide and pembrolizumab for advanced melanoma
This trial tests a combination of daily low-dose cyclophosphamide (a chemotherapy pill) and pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy) in people with advanced melanoma that has stopped responding to prior immunotherapy. The goal is to see if this combination can help shrink tumors or slow the disease.
Orange, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07148245Recruiting
Study of immunotherapy side effects in melanoma
This study looks at how people with advanced melanoma (a serious skin cancer) feel during treatment with immunotherapy. It aims to better understand the symptoms they experience, so doctors can help manage them.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT03567889RecruitingPhase 3
Injectable treatment before surgery for advanced melanoma
This trial tests whether an injected medicine placed directly into melanoma tumors before surgery can improve outcomes for melanoma that has spread to nearby lymph nodes/skin but can still be fully removed. It aims to shrink the cancer and reduce the chance it comes back after surgery.
Orange, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT03860883Recruiting
Comparing wider versus narrower surgery margins for stage II melanoma
This trial studies whether removing a slightly wider strip of skin around a melanoma improves outcomes compared with a narrower strip. It also uses a lymph node staging procedure to check spread and helps doctors fine-tune surgery for stage II melanoma.
Walnut Creek, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05727904RecruitingPhase 3
New immunotherapy for advanced melanoma, with or without lifileucel
This trial studies whether adding lifileucel (a patient-specific immune-cell treatment) to pembrolizumab works better than pembrolizumab alone. It’s for people with untreated advanced melanoma that cannot be removed by surgery.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges 18–70 - NCT05896839RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Immunotherapy with prednisone and sirolimus for transplant skin cancer
This early-phase study tests whether adding immunotherapy (nivolumab and ipilimumab) to prednisone and sirolimus can control advanced skin cancers in people with kidney transplants. It aims to see how well the treatment works and how safe it is for transplant recipients.
La Jolla, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06673095Recruiting
Narrow vs wide surgery for invasive skin melanoma
This trial compares two surgeries for invasive melanoma: a narrow removal versus a wider one. It aims to see if a smaller surgery works as well, which could mean less scarring and recovery time.
Davis, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04598009RecruitingPhase 2
Binimetinib and imatinib for KIT-mutant advanced melanoma
This Phase 2 trial tests binimetinib plus imatinib in people with advanced melanoma that cannot be removed with surgery and that has a KIT mutation. It’s for melanoma that has gotten worse after standard treatment (or where standard treatment isn’t possible or tolerated).
La Jolla, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05086692RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Beta-only IL-2 therapy for advanced solid tumors
This Phase 1/2 study tests a beta-only version of IL-2, an immune-stimulating treatment, to shrink or control advanced or metastatic solid tumors. It’s mainly designed to check safety and to see if it can help patients by improving tumor response.
San Diego, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05361174RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Testing an IOV-4001 infusion for advanced melanoma or lung cancer
This trial studies how well and how safely an infusion called IOV-4001 works in adults with advanced melanoma or non-small-cell lung cancer that cannot be removed with surgery. It also aims to see what side effects occur and whether the treatment can help control the cancer.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18–70 - NCT05428007RecruitingPhase 2
Sarilumab with three immunotherapy drugs for advanced melanoma
This Phase 2 trial tests whether adding sarilumab (an immune-blocking medicine) to three immunotherapy medicines can shrink unresectable, advanced melanoma that cannot be removed with surgery. It aims to improve how well the immune system controls the cancer, especially in Stage III or Stage IV disease.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18–100 - NCT05970497RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
KB707 trial for advanced solid tumors after other treatments
This early-stage trial tests KB707 in people with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors that have not responded well to standard treatments. If you qualify, you may receive KB707 to see how well it can shrink tumors or control the disease.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07237100RecruitingPhase 2
Mirdametinib for advanced NF1-mutant melanoma
This trial tests an experimental oral drug called mirdametinib for people with advanced melanoma that has a specific gene change (NF1 mutation). To join, you must have already had immunotherapy, but not a MEK/ERK/RAF targeted drug before.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06246916RecruitingPhase 3
Testing a new immunotherapy combo for advanced melanoma
This trial is testing a combination of two immunotherapy drugs (anti-LAG-3 and anti-PD-1 antibodies) to see if they work better than standard treatment for people with advanced melanoma that hasn't been treated before. It may be an option if you have not yet received any systemic therapy for your melanoma.
Fullerton, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07338968Enrolling by invitation
Long-term follow-up for early choroidal melanoma study
This study follows people who finished a previous trial for a type of eye cancer called early choroidal melanoma. It checks how patients are doing over time after receiving either the study treatment (bel-sar) or a placebo (sham).
Sacramento, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06743126RecruitingPhase 3
IMA203 vs standard treatment for advanced skin cancer
This trial tests a new cell therapy called IMA203 against standard treatments for people with advanced melanoma (a type of skin cancer) that has spread or can't be removed. It may be an option if you have already tried certain treatments and your cancer has a specific cell marker (HLA-A*02:01).
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT07288112RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Personalized immune vaccine for advanced melanoma
This trial tests a new personalized vaccine made from your own tumor cells. It's for people with advanced melanoma that hasn't responded to standard immunotherapy. The goal is to see if this vaccine can help your immune system fight the cancer.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06264180RecruitingPhase 3
Viral therapy and nivolumab for advanced melanoma
This trial tests a combination of an investigational viral therapy (VO) and the immunotherapy nivolumab for people with advanced melanoma that has stopped responding to previous anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 treatments. The goal is to see if this combination works better than other standard treatments your doctor might choose.
La Jolla, CaliforniaAges 12 years+ - NCT06112314RecruitingPhase 3
New immunotherapy combo for advanced melanoma (first treatment)
This trial tests a new immunotherapy drug (IMC-F106C) combined with standard treatments against the usual nivolumab-based therapy for people with advanced melanoma who have not been treated before. It's for people who carry a specific immune system marker (HLA-A*02:01) and are in fairly good health.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+
Melanoma trials by city in California
Where these studies are running in California
Institutions with a site for the recruiting melanoma studies listed above.
- University of California, Irvine Medical Center / UC Irvine Health · 7 studies
- The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute · 6 studies
- University of California, San Francisco · 6 studies
- UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center · 5 studies
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) · 5 studies
- USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center · 5 studies
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center · 4 studies
- Los Angeles General Medical Center · 3 studies
What taking part in a melanoma study involves
A screening visit first
Before anything else, the study team checks whether you fit — usually a visit with some tests. You can stop at any point, and screening is typically free.
Care at a nearby site
Study visits happen at a clinic or hospital taking part. Many studies cover the cost of the study treatment and related visits, and some reimburse travel.
You stay in control
Taking part is voluntary and you can leave a study at any time, for any reason, without affecting your regular care.
The team decides eligibility
Our fit check is a helpful first read, not a decision. The study team makes the final call after reviewing your health history.
Melanoma trials in other states
Common questions
- Are there melanoma clinical trials in California?
- Yes. We're currently tracking 71 recruiting melanoma studies with a site in California, each rewritten in plain language so you can see what it's testing and who it's for.
- How do I find out if I qualify for a melanoma study in California?
- Each study lists its eligibility rules — age, diagnosis, prior treatments. On every trial page we explain these in plain language and offer a short, optional pre-screen for a fit read. The study team makes the final decision.
- Do I have to live in California to take part?
- Not necessarily. These studies have a site in California, but eligibility is about your health, not your address — some people travel to take part, and a few studies reimburse travel. The study team can tell you what's required.
- Does it cost anything to join a melanoma trial?
- Using Clin2 is always free. Many trials cover the study treatment and related visits; some reimburse travel. The study team explains exactly what's covered before you decide.
Not the right time?
New melanoma studies open in California regularly. Set up a health profile and we’ll quietly watch for studies that fit you and email you when one opens.
Clin2 helps you find and understand clinical trials and does not provide medical advice. Study data comes from ClinicalTrials.gov. Talk with your doctor about whether a specific trial is right for you.