Skin cancer

Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital are leading cutting-edge studies to improve our understanding of skin cancers and develop better treatments. The major kinds of skin cancer include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

Research News


Economics professor cancer-free after immunotherapy trial for skin cancer Economics professor cancer-free after immunotherapy trial for skin cancer
May 3, 2018 - Economics professor Dr. David Gray took part in a clinical trial to see whether an immunotherapy drug could keep his high-risk skin cancer from coming back. Four years later, he’s still cancer-free.
Immunotherapy harnesses our own immune system to fight cancer Immunotherapy harnesses our own immune system to fight cancer
May 18, 2016 - Ed Williams (left) didn’t expect to live more than six months after his skin cancer spread to his brain. But nearly three years later, he is alive and well thanks to immunotherapy. Michelle Renaud (right) is one of the registered nurses who admin




Clinical Trials

The following list of clinical trials is pulled from ClinicalTrials.gov using the search terms "(skin cancer OR melanoma OR basal cell carcinoma OR squamous cell carcinoma)” and “Ottawa Hospital.” More advanced search options are available. If you find a clinical trial that interests you, you can bring the information to the next appointment with your care team and ask if you are eligible for the study. If so, they may be able to refer you to the study team. Visit ohri.ca/patients to learn more about participating in research and clinical trials.

Note that ClinicalTrials.gov is hosted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and is only available in English. Please note that we cannot guarantee a response from the person listed in the ‘Contact’ column.

NCTTitleConditionStatusContact
NCT04895709A Study of BMS-986340 as Monotherapy and in Combination With Nivolumab or Docetaxel in Participants With Advanced Solid Tumors (NCT04895709)Cervical Cancer, Gastric/Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma, Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer, Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck, Carcinoma, Renal Cell, Urothelial Carcinoma, Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma, Melanoma, Ovarian Neoplasms, Triple Negative Breast NeoplasmsRECRUITING 
NCT06064877A Study of Ficlatuzumab in Combination With Cetuximab in Participants With Recurrent or Metastatic (R/M) HPV Negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (NCT06064877)Metastatic Head-and-neck Squamous-cell Carcinoma, Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaRECRUITING 
NCT05571839A Study of PF-08046049/SGN-BB228 in Advanced Melanoma and Other Solid Tumors (NCT05571839)Cutaneous Melanoma, Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, Colorectal Neoplasms, Pancreatic Neoplasms, MesotheliomaRECRUITING 
NCT04260802A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of OC-001 in Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cancers (NCT04260802)Cancer, Neoplasms, Metastatic Cancer, Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Gastric Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck, Urothelial Carcinoma, Urothelial Neoplasm, Non Small Cell Lung Cancer, Renal Cell Carcinoma, Locally Advanced Solid Tumor, Locally Advanced Malignant Neoplasm, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Sarcoma, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Bladder CancerRECRUITING 
NCT05581004A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Activity of RO7502175 as a Single Agent and in Combination With Checkpoint Inhibitor in Participants With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors (NCT05581004)Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors, NSCLC, HNSCC, Melanoma, TNBC, Esophageal Cancer, Gastric Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Urothelial Carcinoma, Clear Cell RCC, HCCRECRUITING 
NCT05538130A Study to Learn About the Study Medicine Called PF-07799544 in People With Advanced Solid Tumors (NCT05538130)Melanoma, Glioma, Thyroid Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Malignant Neoplasms, Brain Neoplasms, Colorectal CancerRECRUITING 
NCT05355701A Study to Learn About the Study Medicine Called PF-07799933 in People With Advanced Solid Tumors With BRAF Alterations. (NCT05355701)Melanoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer, Thyroid Cancer, GliomaRECRUITING 
NCT05050162Comparing Cisplatin Every Three Weeks to Cisplatin Weekly When Combined With Radiation for Patients With Advanced Head and Neck Cancer (NCT05050162)Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Advanced Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Advanced Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Advanced Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Clinical Stage III HPV-Mediated (p16-Positive) Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8, Clinical Stage IV HPV-Mediated (p16-Positive) Oropharyngeal Carcinoma AJCC v8, Stage III Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck AJCC v8, Stage III Oropharyngeal (p16-Negative) Carcinoma AJCC v8, Stage IV Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck AJCC v8, Stage IV Oropharyngeal (p16-Negative) Carcinoma AJCC v8RECRUITING 
NCT02821013Duration of Anti-PD-1 Therapy in Metastatic Melanoma (NCT02821013)Unresectable/Metastatic MelanomaRECRUITING 
NCT03860883Melanoma Margins Trial-II: 1cm v 2cm Wide Surgical Excision Margins for AJCC Stage II Primary Cutaneous Melanoma (NCT03860883)Cutaneous Melanoma, Stage IIRECRUITING 
NCT05955924Nicotinamide Chemoprevention for Keratinocyte Carcinoma in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients - Pivotal Trial (NCT05955924)Non-melanoma Skin Cancer, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell, Carcinoma, Basal Cell, Keratinocyte CarcinomaRECRUITING 
NCT02906943Ontario-wide Cancer TArgeted Nucleic Acid Evaluation (NCT02906943)Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Melanoma, Gynecological Cancer, Genitourinary Cancer, Pancreatobiliary Cancer, Gastrointestinal Cancer, Head and Neck Cancer, Rare Cancer, Unknown Primary CancerRECRUITING 
NCT05111574Using Nivolumab Alone or With Cabozantinib to Prevent Mucosal Melanoma Return After Surgery (NCT05111574)Anal Melanoma, Bladder Melanoma, Cervical Melanoma, Esophageal Melanoma, Gallbladder Melanoma, Head and Neck Mucosal Melanoma, Mucosal Melanoma, Mucosal Melanoma of the Urinary System, Nasopharyngeal Mucosal Melanoma, Oral Cavity Mucosal Melanoma, Penile Mucosal Melanoma, Rectal Melanoma, Recurrent Mucosal Melanoma, Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma, Urethral Melanoma, Vaginal Melanoma, Vulvar MelanomaRECRUITING 


Publications

The following research publications are pulled from PubMed using the search terms "skin cancer OR melanoma OR basal cell carcinoma OR squamous cell carcinoma" and "Ottawa Hospital", with publication date of 2020 or later. More advanced search options are available. Note that PubMed is hosted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and is only available in English.

ASO Visual Abstract: Are Positive Biopsy Margins in Melanoma Significant? A Cohort Study of Micro- Versus Macroscopic Margin Status and Their Impact on Residual Disease and Survival.
2025-04-01

Preoperative Clinical and Tumor Factors Associated With Adjuvant Therapy for Oral Cavity Cancer.
2025-03-27

Sacituzumab Govitecan in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Results from the Phase II TROPiCS-03 Basket Study.
2025-03-03

ASO Author Reflections: Do Biopsy Margins Really Matter in Melanoma?
2025-03-01

Canadian Association of Radiologists Cancer Diagnostic Imaging Referral Guideline.
2025-01-22

Durvalumab and tremelimumab in patients with advanced rare cancer: a multi-centre, non-blinded, open-label phase II basket trial.
2025-01-01

Are Positive Biopsy Margins in Melanoma Significant?: A Cohort Study of Micro- Versus Macroscopic Margin Status and Their Impact on Residual Disease and Survival.
2025-01-01

Postoperative Opioid Prescription Fill Rates and Consumption in Skin Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.
2024-12-22

Combination of oncolytic Maraba virus with immune checkpoint blockade overcomes therapy resistance in an immunologically cold model of advanced melanoma with dysfunctional T-cell receptor signalling.
2024-07-25

Surveillance evaluations in patients with stage I, II, III, or resectable IV melanoma who were treated with curative intent: A systematic review.
2024-06-01

View more on PubMed