
Melanoma & Skin Cancer Program
The UCSF Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program provides advanced care for patients with all stages of melanoma, from early-stage melanomas to advanced metastatic cancer, as well as other types of skin cancer. These include squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas and Merkel cell carcinomas. We also care for patients who are at higher risk of developing melanoma due to their family history, genetic mutations or having many abnormal moles. Our team includes dermatologists, medical and surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists and dermatopathologists, all of whom specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer.
Our program is part of the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute since 1999. This designation recognizes centers that provide full-spectrum, cutting-edge cancer care.
UCSF dermatopathologists test patients' melanomas for genetic mutations – such as BRAF, NRAS, KIT, GNAQ and GNA11– to help us target treatments to specific mutations. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy and immunotherapy. Our various specialists meet for a weekly "tumor board" to evaluate complex cases and make treatment recommendations.
We perform skin exams using dermatoscopes, handheld instruments that allow us to distinguish cancerous lesions from noncancerous lesions with greater accuracy. We may also use digital dermoscopic photography – photographs taken with the dermatoscope – to closely track suspicious lesions over time.
UCSF has been on the forefront of recent breakthroughs in the treatment of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers. As a patient, you may be offered the option of participating in clinical trials.
Our locations
Our team
Clinical trials
Intraoperative Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Breast Cancer Undergoing Breast-Cons...
Statistical analysis of this study is primarily descriptive and exploratory. An "intent to treat" analysis will be conducted mainly using the log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier to compare hazard rates. Other parametric and nonparametr...
Recruiting
Binimetinib and Imatinib for Unresectable Stage III-IV KIT-Mutant Melanoma
Defined as complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST v1.1). The ORR at stages 1 and 2 will be estimated using the method of Whitehead, and the p-values for testing the ...
Recruiting
Pembrolizumab With and Without Radiotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
The primary endpoint for this study is the change in number of infiltrating CD3+ T cells/ μm2 in the lung cancer tissue from before and after pembrolizumab +/- SRT, based on quantification using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and imag...
Recruiting
Rankings & achievements
-
Best hospital in Northern California
-
Best in Northern California in cancer care
-
melanoma patients seen each year
Accreditations & memberships
-
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute has designated UCSF a comprehensive cancer center, its highest ranking. This designation is awarded to centers that demonstrate scientific excellence and the ability to conduct cancer research across many disciplines.
-
Commission on Cancer
UCSF's cancer programs have been accredited by the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer (CoC) since 1933. The CoC is a consortium of groups dedicated to improving cancer patients' survival and quality of life via research, education and better medical care.
-
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
UCSF is a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the world’s top cancer centers. The network brings together leaders in treatment and research to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of cancer care.
Support services
Plan your visit
What to Bring
- Photo I.D.
- Health insurance card
- Insurance authorization, if required
- Doctor's referral, if required
- Recent test results related to your condition
- List of your medications, including dosages, plus any you're allergic to
- List of questions you may have
- Device or paper for taking notes

International Services
If you live in another country and are coming to UCSF for medical
treatment, our patient liaisons can help coordinate all aspects of your visit.

Interpreters
UCSF offers language services at no charge for patients with limited
English, as well as for patients who are deaf or have trouble hearing.

Hospital Stays
Checking into the hospital? Find helpful information by clicking on the relevant “Your Hospital Stay” booklet: Mission Bay, Parnassus or Mount
Zion.

Your Doctor Visit
See our top 10 tips for making your UCSF doctor’s appointment as stress-free and productive as possible.
Learn moreRelated clinics
Our research initiatives
-
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center Research
UCSF is home to a range of research initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for cancer patients everywhere. This includes research on topics such as immunotherapy, BRCA mutations and molecular diagnostic testing.