The Melanoma Center at St. Luke’s
The Melanoma Center at St. Luke’s is a regional center of excellence and provides comprehensive care for patients with all stages of this disease. Our team of board-certified specialists provide the latest diagnostic and therapeutic surgical and medical options for patients including sentinel lymph node mapping, adjuvant immunotherapy and high dose immunotherapy with interleukin-2. The St. Luke’s Melanoma Center has the largest portfolio of cutting edge clinical trials for melanoma in the region and provides options for patients with advanced melanoma that are often not available elsewhere.
Dr. Agarwala is a nationally and internationally recognized melanoma expert with over 15 years of experience in clinical trials. He is also the Chief of Oncology and Hematology at St. Luke’s Cancer Center. He is at the forefront of the latest advances in melanoma treatments and is Program Chair for the International Symposium on Melanoma held annually in New York City, the largest melanoma symposium in the United States.
Melanoma is the most deadly of skin cancers. However, it is more than 90 percent curable when recognized and treated early. The Melanoma Center at St. Luke’s has a team of melanoma experts and access to the latest diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and treatments.
The Melanoma Center has two locations in the Lehigh Valley:
801 Ostrum Street
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-954-2140 |
240 Cetronia Road
Allentown, PA 18104
610-954-2140 |
St. Luke's Melanoma Experts
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Sanjiv S. Agarwala, MD
An internationally-recognized investigator in the field of melanoma and immunotherapy, Dr. Agarwala serves as Chief, Medical Oncology, St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network. He has led promising clinical trials of immunotherapy and targeted therapy in melanoma and has published a variety of therapeutic approaches to melanoma in respected peer review journals.
More about Dr. Agarwala |
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Lee B. Riley, MD, PhD
Dr. Riley serves as medical director of the St. Luke's Cancer Center, and is the section chief of surgical oncology for St. Luke's Hospital & Health Network. His commitment about finding a cure for cancer has led him to extensive research around the globe.
More about Dr. Riley |
The most serious skin cancer
Melanoma often starts as a small, mole – like growth.
If you think a mole might be melanoma, test its ABCD's...
Asymmetry – One half does not match the other half.
Border – The edges are irregular, ragged, notched or blurred.
Color – The color is not the same all over, but may have differing shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of red, white or blue.
Diameter – The area is larger than a pencil eraser) or is growing larger.
Melanoma Facts
- Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that occurs in the cells that color the skin.
- Melanoma may appear as a new growth or as a change in the size, shape or color of an existing mole.
- Melanoma is the leading cause of skin cancer-related deaths because it may spread to many other areas of the body through the lymph or blood systems.
- The incidence of melanoma is rising in the United States. Melanoma usually is linked to sun exposure.
- With treatment, 95 percent of early malignant melanoma is curable.
- The number of surgical, radiation and medical treatments for melanoma has greatly increased over the past 10 years.
The Melanoma Program at the St. Luke's Cancer Center provides patients with the latest diagnosis and treatment methods.
Melanoma treatment options include...
Promising Clinical Trials for Melanoma
When it is unlikely that standard treatments for melanoma will benefit patients, they are offered promising new treatments through clinical trials. More than 100 clinical trials currently are under way at St. Luke's Cancer Center. About ten of these clinical trials offered specifically are for melanoma.
For more information about skin cancer diagnosis and treatment at St. Luke’s Cancer Center, call 610-954-2140.
St. Luke’s has the only team of fellowship-trained surgical oncologists in the region – Drs. Riley, Desai and Quiros. Dr. Riley serves as the Chief, Surgical Oncology, St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network. He oversees instruction of the Sentinel Lymph Node biopsy technique and is conducting vaccine research for solid malignant tumors.
Glossary of Clinical Trial Terms
The Melanoma Center at St. Luke’s offers the latest diagnosis and treatments:
Immunotherapy, or biological therapy – involves advanced cancer-fighting treatments in the form of vaccines and natural materials made by the body’s own immune system. These therapies work to fight cancer by boosting, directing or restoring the body’s natural defenses against the tumor. Immunotherapy has been helpful in treating melanoma patients at high risk of recurrence, even those with advanced disease.
Interferon – is a natural protein made by the body’s immune system. Interferon stops the growth of viruses and cancer cells. Interferon has been shown to significantly prolong the life of high-risk melanoma patients.
High-dose Interleukin-2 (IL-2) – is a natural protein that stimulates the growth of cancer-fighting white blood cells. IL-2 has proven effective in prolonging life for melanoma patients with advanced disease. IL-2 is effective when used alone or after standard chemotherapy has failed. St. Luke's Melanoma Center is the only center in eastern Pennsylvaniz to offer IL-2 as a treatment for melanoma.
Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNLB) – Nuclear medicine and surgical procedure involves injecting dye around a tumor to identify a single lymph node at risk for the spread of cancer. SLNB dramatically increases the accuracy of determining whether a tumor has spread. SLNB reduces the need for major lymph node removal surgery by 70 percent for melanoma patients.
Radiation therapy – St. Luke’s offers the most advanced radiation therapy program in our region and serves as a Varian Medical Systems show site. Radiation therapy may be used to help control melanoma if it has spread or recurred.
Promising new treatments and clinical trials – St. Luke’s participates in national and regional trials for the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma, including Allovectin-7® for advanced melanoma; the AGENDA trial, a unique targeted therapy which compares DTIC to DTIC plus genasense; and ECOG Trial E 1697 which tests interferon as adjuvant therapy. St. Luke’s is at the forefront of research for melanoma and has expertise in the evaluation and administration of new and experimental therapies. Dr. Agarwala serves as investigator for these trials.
Support services – Our team works to coordinate the full range of services, including initial oncology consultations, immunotherapy treatment, surgery services, follow-up care, social services and counseling, nutritional counseling, symptom management, home health care, patient and family education and access to other necessary care.
Skin Cancer Prevention - Be Sun Smart
Protecting ourselves from the sun's rays can prevent about 80 percent of skin cancers. Before you head outdoors, remember these guidelines:
- Limit sun exposure between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm when the sun's rays are the strongest.
- Cover up when in the sun. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and wear a hat that shades your face, neck and ears.
- Use sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB, and has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
- Do not use sunlamps or tanning booths. They are as harmful to your skin as the sun.