
Core Insights - Castle Biosciences, Inc. announced that its DecisionDx-Melanoma test significantly outperforms traditional methods in identifying low-risk melanoma patients who may avoid sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) surgery, with a sentinel lymph node positivity rate of 2.8%, well below the NCCN's 5% threshold [1][2][3] Company Overview - Castle Biosciences is a diagnostics company focused on innovative tests that enhance patient care, with a portfolio that includes tests for skin cancers and other conditions [6][8] - The DecisionDx-Melanoma test has been ordered over 200,000 times for patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma, demonstrating its widespread adoption and clinical relevance [5] Study Findings - The study published in Cancer Diagnosis & Prognosis indicates that DecisionDx-Melanoma provides better risk stratification compared to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging and the CP-GEP test, confirming its clinical utility [2][3] - Patients identified as low risk by CP-GEP had a sentinel lymph node positivity rate of 6.2%, while those identified by DecisionDx-Melanoma had a significantly lower rate of 2.8%, highlighting the latter's superior accuracy [3] Clinical Implications - The findings support the use of DecisionDx-Melanoma in clinical decision-making, allowing clinicians to confidently recommend forgoing SLNB for patients with low-risk results, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing unnecessary procedures [4][5] - The test integrates tumor biology with clinical factors, providing personalized risk assessments for sentinel lymph node positivity and melanoma recurrence [5]