Lymphovascular Invasion as a Prognostic Factor in Melanoma

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (8) ◽  
pp. 992-997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E. Egger ◽  
Julianna E. Gilbert ◽  
Alison L. Burton ◽  
Kelly M. Mcmasters ◽  
Glenda G. Callender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lymphovascular Invasion ◽  
Independent Predictor ◽  
Prospective Trial ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
Histologic Subtype ◽  
Sentinel Nodes ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Kaplan Meier

The prognostic significance of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in melanoma remains controversial. Clinicopathologic data from a prospective trial of patients with melanoma were analyzed with respect to LVI. Disease-free survival and overall survival (OS) were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate factors predictive of tumor-positive sentinel nodes (SLN) and survival. A total of 2183 patients were included in this analysis; 171 (7.8%) had LVI. Median follow-up was 68 months. Factors associated with LVI included tumor thickness, ulceration, and histologic subtype ( P < 0.05). LVI was associated with a greater risk of SLN metastasis ( P < 0.05). By KM analysis, LVI was associated with worse OS ( P = 0.0009). On multivariate analysis, age, gender, thickness, ulceration, anatomic location, and SLN status were predictors of OS; however, LVI was not an independent predictor of OS. Among patients with regression, the 5-year OS rate was 49.4 per cent for patients with LVI versus 81.1 per cent for those with no LVI ( P < 0.0001). LVI is associated with a greater risk of SLN metastasis. Although LVI is not an independent predictor of OS in general, it is a powerful predictor of worse OS among patients who have evidence of regression of the primary tumor.

Pituitary surgery as alternative to dopamine agonists treatment for microprolactinomas, a cohort study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertrand Baussart ◽  
Chiara Villa ◽  
Anne Jouinot ◽  
Marie-Laure Raffin-Sanson ◽  
Luc Foubert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dopamine Agonists ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
Pituitary Surgery ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage ◽  
Neurosurgical Department ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Disease Free

Objective: Microprolactinomas are currently treated with dopamine agonists. Outcome information on microprolactinoma patients treated by surgery is limited. This study reports the first large series of consecutive non-invasive microprolactinoma patients treated by pituitary surgery and evaluates the efficiency and safety of this treatment. Design: Follow-up of a cohort of consecutive patients treated by surgery. Methods: Between January 2008 and October 2020, 114 adult patients with pure microprolactinomas were operated on in a single tertiary expert neurosurgical department, using an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach. Eligible patients were presenting a microprolactinoma with no obvious cavernous invasion on MRI. Prolactin was assayed before and after surgery. Disease-free survival was modeled using Kaplan-Meier representation. A cox regression model was used to predict remission. Results: Median follow-up was 18.2 months (range: 2.8 to 155). In this cohort, 14/114 (12%) patients were not cured by surgery, including 10 early surgical failures, and 4 late relapses occurring 37.4 months (33 to 41.8) after surgery. From Kaplan Meier estimates, 1-year and 5-year disease free survival were 90.9% (95% CI, 85.6%-96.4%) and 81% (95% CI,71.2%-92.1%) respectively. The preoperative prolactinemia was the only significant preoperative predictive factor for remission (P<0.05). No severe complication was reported, with no anterior pituitary deficiency after surgery, one diabetes insipidus, and one postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage properly treated by muscle plasty. Conclusions: In well selected microprolactinoma patients, pituitary surgery performed by an expert neurosurgical team is a valid first-line alternative treatment to dopamine agonists.

The Importance of Lymphovascular Invasion in Uterine Adenosarcomas: Analysis of Clinical, Prognostic, and Treatment Outcomes

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 1297-1310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Nathenson ◽  
Anthony P. Conley ◽  
Heather Lin ◽  
Nicole Fleming ◽  
Alexander Lazar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survival Data ◽  
Lymphovascular Invasion ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
Myometrial Invasion ◽  
Figo Stage ◽  
Adjuvant Radiation ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Gynecology And Obstetrics ◽  
Resection Status

ObjectiveThis retrospective study examined the clinicopathologic features of adenosarcoma patients to determine potential prognostic factors and retrospectively evaluated overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) after primary treatment of adenosarcoma including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.MethodsOne hundred sixty-five patients with adenosarcoma were identified from the MD Anderson Cancer Center tumor registry between 1982 and 2014. Clinical data were collected retrospectively. Pathologic characteristics were examined by sarcoma pathologists. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate OS, DFS, and LRFS. The log-rank test was performed to test the difference in survival between groups. Multivariate regression analyses of survival data were conducted using the Cox proportional hazards model.ResultsMedian OS and DFS for all patients were 8.5 and 4.7 years, respectively. Pathologic characteristics that influence OS and DFS were sarcomatous overgrowth (SO), myometrial invasion (MI), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), tumor size, number of mitosis, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, age, and resection status. Median OS for adenosarcoma patients with SO was 5.2 versus 14.5 years for patients without SO (P < 0.0001). Median OS for adenosarcoma patients with MI was 5.8 years versus not reached for patients without MI (P = 0.0005). Median OS for adenosarcoma patients with LVI was 1.0 versus 8.9 years for patients without LVI (P = 0.0021). On Cox analysis for OS and DFS and LRFS, only SO, MI, LVI, age, resection status, and FIGO stage remained significant. There was no difference in OS or LRFS for adjuvant radiation versus no adjuvant radiation (P = 0.17, P = 0.076).ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of LVI as a prognostic factor and confirms the prognostic significance of SO, MI, age, resection status, and FIGO stage for adenosarcoma. Furthermore, this study suggests that there is no additional benefit to adjuvant radiation. The standard-of-care treatment for adenosarcoma should remain total abdominal hysterectomy bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy +/− lymphadenectomy and no adjuvant radiation.

Second Primary Melanomas: Incidence and Outcome

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 675-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Bower ◽  
Charles R. Scoggins ◽  
Robert C. G. Martin ◽  
Michael P. Mays ◽  
Michael J. Edwards ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Primary Melanoma ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
Second Primary ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Ongoing Surveillance ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Disease Free

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of multiple primary melanomas (MPM) and other cancers types among patients with melanoma. Factors associated with development of MPM were assessed in a post hoc analysis of the database from a multi-institutional prospective randomized trial of patients with melanoma aged 18 to 70 years with Breslow thickness 1 mm or greater. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Forty-eight (1.9%) of 2506 patients with melanoma developed additional primary melanomas. Median follow-up was 66 months. Except in one patient, the subsequent melanomas were thinner (median, 0.32 mm vs 1.50 mm; P < 0.0001). Compared with patients without MPM, patients with MPM were more likely to be older (median age, 54.5 vs 51.0 years; P = 0.048), to have superficially spreading melanomas (SSM) ( P = 0.025), to have negative sentinel lymph nodes ( P = 0.021), or to lack lymphovascular invasion (LVI) ( P = 0.008) with the initial tumor. On multivariate analysis, age ( P = 0.028), LVI ( P = 0.010), and SSM subtype of the original melanoma ( P = 0.024) were associated with MPM. Patients with MPM and patients with single primary melanoma had similar DFS (5-year DFS 88.7 vs 81.3%, P = 0.380), but patients with MPM had better OS (5-year OS 95.3 vs 80.0%, P = 0.005). Nonmelanoma malignancies occurred in 152 patients (6.1%). Ongoing surveillance of patients with melanoma is important given that a significant number will develop additional melanoma and nonmelanoma tumors. With close follow-up, second primary melanomas are usually detected at an early stage.

Evaluation of intensive postremission chemotherapy for adults with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia using high-dose cytosine arabinoside with L-asparaginase and amsacrine with etoposide.

1987 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 918-926 ◽  
Author(s):  
M S Tallman ◽  
F R Appelbaum ◽  
D Amos ◽  
R S Goldberg ◽  
R B Livingston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cytosine Arabinoside ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Disease Free ◽  
Historical Controls

In order to test the toxicity and efficacy of intensive postremission therapy with high-dose cytosine arabinoside with L-asparaginase and amsacrine with etoposide in adults with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANL), 100 adults (ages 19 to 75) with previously untreated ANL were entered into a study using six sequential cycles of chemotherapy. Cycles 1 (induction), 3, and 5 included conventional doses of daunomycin, cytosine arabinoside, 6-thioguanine, vincristine (VCR), and prednisone. Cycle 2 was cytosine arabinoside 3 g/m2 intravenously (IV) every 12 hours for four doses, followed by L-asparaginase 10,000 U intramuscularly (IM) at hour 42; this combination was repeated 1 week later. Cycle 4 included amsacrine 120 mg/m2/d and etoposide 100 mg/m2/d, both IV for five days, and cycle 6 was three monthly courses of VCR on day 1, and prednisone, mercaptopurine, and methotrexate each for five days. Seventy-four patients (74%) achieved complete remission (CR) (51 with cycle 1 and 23 after cycle 2). The overall disease-free survival (DFS) for patients achieving CR is 27% at 3 years by Kaplan-Meier analysis, while for patients achieving CR with cycle 1 it is 34%. The actuarial probability of being free from relapse at 3 years for patients achieving CR is 34%. Sixteen of the 74 CR patients (22%) died in CR while continuing to receive intensive chemotherapy, including 12 (18%) who succumbed to infection (nine bacterial, three fungal). After a median follow-up of 20 months, 36 patients have relapsed and 21 remain alive in CR. Intensive consolidation with high-dose cytosine arabinoside, amsacrine, and etoposide can modestly prolong DFS compared with historical controls. However, relapse continued to be a major problem and, in addition, with more aggressive consolidation therapy, infection during marrow aplasia resulted in a significant number of deaths.

Autologous Transplantation in De Novo Non-Promyelocytic Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patients in First Complete Remission (CR1) with Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) Collection Following Consolidation with High-Dose Cytarabine and Etoposide: A Single Institution Experience

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 4461-4461
Author(s):  
Eugene Choi ◽  
Lingyi Chen ◽  
Srikanth Nagalla ◽  
Vamshi Kaveti ◽  
Regina Mullaney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
De Novo ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Cd34 Cells ◽  
High Dose Cytarabine ◽  
Lost To Follow Up ◽  
Disease Free

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Autologous PBSC transplant is an important yet evolving treatment modality for patients with AML. However, the ideal mobilization regimen from which to collect PBSC remains in question. Previous reports have indicated that highdose cytarabine with etoposide is both safe and effective in terms of successful PBSC procurement, subsequent engraftment, and disease outcome. METHODS: At our institution from 1994 to 2007, 38 consecutive patients with de novo non-promyelocytic AML in first complete remission following conventional induction chemotherapy were consolidated with high-dose cytarabine (2000mg/m2 IV q12h × 8 doses, days 1–4) and etoposide (40mg/kg IV over 96h) followed by G-CSF 5 mg/kg subcutaneously starting d14 until completion of PBSC collection. Patients underwent myeloablative therapy with busulfan (1mg/kg po q6h × 16 doses, days –7 to -4) and etoposide (60 mg/kg IV over 10h, day -3) with PBSC infusion occurring on day 0 with daily G-CSF 5 mg/kg. Data regarding stem cell yield, engraftment and patient outcome was collected retrospectively. RESULTS: The average patient age was 44 years (range 19–70). Following consolidation, at least 2×106 CD34 cells/kg were isolated from all 38 patients with a median of 9.4×106 (range 2.2–43) CD34 cells/kg over a mean of 4 collections (range 1–11). Overall, 36 of 38 (95%) remained in CR and went onto PBSC transplant (one died from infectious complications during consolidation, one relapsed before transplant). The median number of stem cells infused was 8.8×106 CD 34 cells/kg (range 2.2–47). All 36 patients engrafted with the mean number of days to neutrophil recovery (ANC&gt;500) being 11 (range 8–17) and the mean number of days to platelet recovery (&gt;20,000) being 12 (range 8–19). Disease-free outcomes in patients undergoing PBSC transplant while in CR1 are presented in Figure 1. The 3y overall survival in all pts was 66%, and 56% at 5y. For good-risk cytogenetic patients, 3y OS was 78% and the 5y OS was 75%. For intermediate-risk cytogenetic patients, OS was 47% and 36% at 3y and 5y respectively. Three patients with poor cytogenetics were autulogously transplanted. One patient relapsed at day 111 and expired at day 450. The second patient remains in CR at day 246. The third patient relapsed at day 104 and expired at day 322. CONCLUSION: In patients with de novo non-promyelocytic AML in CR1, consolidation with high-dose cytarabine plus etoposide is safe and provides excellent yield of PBSCs upon growth factor accelerated hematological recovery. Subsequent engraftment after autologous transplanation is rapid. Our outcomes support the viability of this regimen in patients with good and intermediate-risk cytogenetics. Figure 1: Kaplan-Meier analysis of disease-free survival following autologous PBSC transplant. Cytogenetic analysis was unavailable in 5 patients, and 1 patient was lost to follow-up. Figure 1:. Kaplan-Meier analysis of disease-free survival following autologous PBSC transplant. Cytogenetic analysis was unavailable in 5 patients, and 1 patient was lost to follow-up.

scholarly journals PATTERNS OF MYOINVASION IN ENDOMETRIOID ADENOCARCINOMA OF ENDOMETRIUM

2022 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 2211-15
Author(s):  
Mehroosh Shakeel ◽  
Sajid Mushtaq ◽  
Noreen Akhtar ◽  
Iftikhar Ali Rana ◽  
Raza Muhammad
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Hospital Patients ◽  
Endometrial Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Related Mortality

Objective: To assess the patterns of myoinvasion of endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma, their frequencies in our hospital and to correlate these patterns with survival. Study Design: Retrospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Lahore, from Aug 2019 to Apr 2020. Methodology: All cases of endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma between 2015 and 2017 were retrieved from the archives, independently reviewed by two researchers, all key reporting parameters recorded in addition to the pattern of myoinvasion as per their operational definitions described by Cole and Quick. The follow-up of 3-5 years was obtained from archives and through telephonic contact for outside hospital patients. Disease free survival and relapse-associated mortality were represented through Kaplan-Meier curves. Results: Eighty cases of myoinvasive endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma were reviewed. We found that infiltrating irregular gland pattern was the most frequent in all the age groups. Thirty-five (43.75%) cases showed this type of invasion, followed by broad front pattern 23 (28.75%), Microcystic Elongated and Fragmented (MELF) pattern 15 (18.75%) and adenomyotic pattern 6 (7.5%). One case showed a combination of the last two patterns, whereas adenoma malignum pattern was not seen. Follow-up of these patients showed 8 (10%) patients with relapse related mortality including 5 (62.5%) infiltrating irregular glands, 2 (25%) adenomyosis-like and 1 (12.5%) broad front pattern of myoinvasion. Seventy-two (90%) patients had recurrence free survival. Conclusion: Frequency of infiltrating irregular pattern of myoinvasion in endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma is high and associated with recurrence related mortality. Recognition....................

scholarly journals Alpha-Fetoprotein Ratio Predicts Alpha-Fetoprotein Positive Hepatocellular Cancer Patient Prognosis after Hepatectomy

2022 ◽  
Vol 2022 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Li-Yue Sun ◽  
Wen-Jian Cen ◽  
Wen-Ting Tang ◽  
Ling Deng ◽  
Fang Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Validation Cohort ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
Hepatocellular Cancer ◽  
Alpha Fetoprotein ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Training Cohort ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Significant Independent Risk Factor ◽  
Patient Prognosis

Background. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ratio on the prognosis of AFP-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after hepatectomy. Methods. We retrospectively included 879 HCC patients with AFP-positive who underwent hepatectomy from February 2012 to October 2017 and randomly divided into training cohort and validation cohort. AFP ratio was equal to the AFP level within one week before hepatectomy to AFP level within 20-40 days after surgery. The end point of follow-up was disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results. AFP ratio was not associated with clinical characteristics in training cohort and validation cohort. According to the X-tile software, the optimum cut-off point was 17.8 for AFP ratio. Significant differences between AFP ratio high and AFP ratio low were observed in DFS and OS in both cohort ( p < 0.05 ). Kaplan-Meier curves and receiver-operating curves were showed that AFP ratio was better than AFP level preoperation in predicting the prognosis of AFP-positive HCC patients after hepatectomy. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that AFP ratio was a significant independent risk factor for both OS and DFS in HCC patients with AFP-positive. Conclusions. AFP ratio might be a prognosis predictor for HCC patients with AFP-positive after hepatectomy.

Transoral laser microsurgery outcomes with early glottic cancer: the Dalhousie University experience

2011 ◽  
Vol 125 (5) ◽  
pp. 509-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
S E Lester ◽  
M H Rigby ◽  
S M Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
Glottic Cancer ◽  
Transoral Laser Microsurgery ◽  
Laser Microsurgery ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Early Glottic Cancer ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Disease Free

AbstractObjective:To report the results of transoral laser microsurgery for the treatment of early glottic cancer at our institution.Design:Cohort study. Retrospective review of charts of patients diagnosed with tumour stage 1 or 2 (early stage; no nodes or metastases), previously untreated, primary glottic cancer, treated with transoral laser microsurgery at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The minimum follow-up period was two years.Setting:Tertiary care head and neck cancer centre.Participants:Fifty-three patients treated between January 2002 and November 2007.Outcome measure:Kaplan–Meier survival analysis for disease-free survival, overall survival and laryngectomy-free survival, at five years.Results:The group comprised 46 men and seven women, with a mean age of 66 years (range 30–84 years). Mean follow up was 40 months (range 12–89 months). There were four cases of complications (7.5 per cent). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed a five-year disease-free survival (including salvage) of 96.2 per cent, a five-year overall survival (all causes) of 88.8 per cent and a five-year laryngectomy-free survival of 98.1 per cent.Conclusion:Transoral laser microsurgery is a safe and effective initial treatment for early laryngeal cancer, and has high rates of laryngeal preservation and disease-free survival.

scholarly journals RECTAL NEUROENDOCRINE TUMORS: SHORT-TERM AND LONGTERM RESULTS OF LOCAL EXCISION

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-154
Author(s):  
Yevgeniy Rybakov ◽  
Yevgeniy Khomyakov ◽  
Olga Maynovskaya ◽  
Sergey Sychev ◽  
Stanislav Chernyshov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuroendocrine Tumors ◽  
Local Excision ◽  
Lymphovascular Invasion ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Endoscopic Microsurgery

Objective: Rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare neoplasms and, therefore, few clinical observational studies have been performed and few publications are available on this matter. With regard to the aforesaid, it seems topical to analyze and publish results of local rectal NET excisions that were performed at Federal State Budgetary Institution «State Scientific Centre of Coloproctology n.a. A.N. Ryzhikh» of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia. Patients and methods: Within the period from December 2011 until June 2018 14 patients, including 4 (28.6%) men and 10 (71.4%) women underwent transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) for rectal NETs at Federal State Budgetary Institution «State Scientific Centre of Coloproctology n.a. A.N. Ryzhikh» of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia. The mean age of the patients was 53.2 ± 14.14 (24 to 74) years old. Remote results of the treatment performed were traced for all 14 (100%) patients. Kaplan-Meier curves were graphed and then compared using the log-rank (Mantel-Cox) method. Results: On the basis of findings of pathomorphological studies, 10 (71.4%) patients were diagnosed with stage pT1a tumors, 3 (21.4%) participants had stage pT1b tumors, and 1 (7.2%) patient had stage pT2 tumor; 11 (78.6%) patients enrolled to the study had G1 tumors and 3 (21.4%) participants had G2 tumors; and lymphovascular invasion was detected in 4 (28.5%) of the 14 patients. All excisions were radical (R0). The median follow-up period was 25.5 (9 to 86) months. Disease progression was found in 3 (21.4%) of the 14 patients. NET size exceeding 10 mm was the only statistically significant factor that had impact on relapse-free survival (p=0.032). Conclusion: Local excision of rectal NETs can be an option of surgical treatment for small (< 10 mm) low-grade tumors. At the same time, precision and safety are of unquestionable priority in TEM.

MART-1 Is Expressed Less Frequently on Circulating Melanoma Cells in Patients Who Develop Distant Compared With Locoregional Metastases

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 2562-2562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Curry ◽  
Kieda Myers ◽  
Peter Hersey
Keyword(s):  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Disease Free Survival ◽  
Melanoma Cells ◽  
Surgical Removal ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Localized Disease ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Disease Free

PURPOSE: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with tyrosinase and with MART-1 permits detection of small numbers of circulating melanoma cells (CMCs) in patients who have undergone surgical resection of localized disease. In a previous study, we showed that PCR with MART-1 had sensitivity and specificity similar to those of PCR with tyrosinase in terms of detection of CMCs but that PCR with MART-1 seemed to identify a different but overlapping subgroup of patients. In the current study, we examined the utility and prognostic significance of PCR with tyrosinase and with MART-1. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the prognostic significance of the patterns of expression of tyrosinase and MART-1 in 186 patients followed sequentially before and after surgical removal of American Joint Committee on Cancer stage I, II, or III melanoma. RESULTS: PCR with tyrosinase and with MART-1 in the first 3 months after surgery identified 68.5% of 73 patients who developed recurrence in the 2-year period after surgery. Approximately 35% of patients with positive tests remained disease-free at 2-year follow-up. We found that patients with disseminated recurrence had a significantly lower incidence of MART-1–positive CMCs (16%) than of tyrosinase-positive CMCs (63%). Patients with locoregional metastases had CMCs that expressed tyrosinase and MART-1 at similar rates. These differences in expression of the markers in patients with disseminated recurrence were also associated with a much lower disease-free survival, in those who had CMCs that were positive for tyrosinase but negative for MART-1. The reverse applied in those with locoregional disease. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that PCR with MART-1 and with tyrosinase identifies subgroups of patients who develop disseminated or locally recurrent metastases. We hypothesize that immune responses against MART-1 may reduce the establishment of disseminated metastases.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document