Circulating Tumor DNA in Melanoma Patients

This is a prospective observational cohort study designed to evaluate the clinical significance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection and quantification in patients with melanoma. The main purpose of the study is to determine whether the presence and quantity of ctDNA may represent a predictive biomarker for melanoma recurrence or disease progression. The study will assess the relationship between ctDNA levels and established clinical and histopathological prognostic factors. ctDNA detection and quantification will be performed and correlated with relevant patient and tumor characteristics. The study will also evaluate whether ctDNA measurement can contribute to improved monitoring of melanoma patients and prediction of treatment outcomes. The study is conducted at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana as a prospective cohort study and includes melanoma patients who are followed over time. The collected data will be analyzed to determine associations between ctDNA presence/quantity and recurrence or progression of melanoma.