scholarly journals Cumulative Incidence and Predictors of CNS Metastasis for Patients With American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th Edition Stage III Melanoma

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (13) ◽  
pp. 1429-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren E. Haydu ◽  
Serigne N. Lo ◽  
Jennifer L. McQuade ◽  
Rodabe N. Amaria ◽  
Jennifer Wargo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Tumor ◽  
Cumulative Incidence ◽  
Mitotic Rate ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Cns Metastasis ◽  
American Joint Committee ◽  
Stage Iii Melanoma ◽  
8Th Edition

PURPOSE Improved understanding of the incidence, risk factors, and timing of CNS metastasis is needed to inform surveillance strategies for patients with melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS Clinical data were extracted from the databases of 2 major melanoma centers in the United States and Australia for 1,918 patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition stage III melanoma, diagnosed from 1998-2014, who had (negative) baseline CNS imaging within 4 months of diagnosis. The cumulative incidence of CNS metastasis was calculated in the presence of the competing risk of death, from stage III presentation and at benchmark time points 1, 2, and 5 years postdiagnosis. RESULTS At a median follow-up of 70.2 months, distant recurrence occurred in 711 patients (37.1%). The first site of distant metastasis was CNS only for 3.9% of patients, CNS and extracranial (EC) for 1.8%, and EC only for 31.4%. Overall, 16.7% of patients were diagnosed with CNS metastasis during follow-up. The cumulative incidence of CNS metastasis was 3.6% (95% CI, 2.9% to 4.6%) at 1 year, 9.6% (95% CI, 8.3% to 11.0%) at 2 years, and 15.8% (95% CI, 14.1% to 17.6%) at 5 years. The risk of CNS metastasis was significantly influenced by patient sex, age, AJCC stage, primary tumor site, and primary tumor mitotic rate in multivariable and conditional analyses. High primary tumor mitotic rate was significantly associated with increased risk of CNS metastasis at diagnosis and all subsequent time points examined. CONCLUSION Similar rates of CNS metastasis were observed in 2 large, geographically distinct cohorts of patients with stage III melanoma. The results highlight the importance of primary tumor mitotic rate. Furthermore, they provide a framework for developing evidence-based surveillance strategies and evaluating the impact of contemporary adjuvant therapies on the risk of CNS metastasis development.

scholarly journals OTHR-08. PREDICTION OF RISK OF CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM METASTASIS FOR AJCC 8TH EDITION STAGE III MELANOMA PATIENTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i19-i20
Author(s):  
Lauren Haydu ◽  
Serigne Lo ◽  
Jennifer McQuade ◽  
Isabella Glitza ◽  
Hussein Tawbi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Tumor ◽  
Cumulative Incidence ◽  
Mitotic Rate ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Primary Tumor Site ◽  
Cns Metastasis ◽  
Melanoma Patients ◽  
Stage Iii Melanoma ◽  
The Impact ◽  
8Th Edition

Abstract Among common solid tumors, melanoma has the highest risk of CNS metastasis. Improved understanding of the incidence, risk factors, and timing of CNS metastasis is needed to inform surveillance strategies for at-risk patients. Clinical data were extracted from two institutions for AJCC 8th edition stage III melanoma patients, diagnosed from 1998–2014 who had negative baseline CNS imaging within 4 months of diagnosis. The cumulative incidence of CNS metastasis was calculated in the presence of the competing risk of death from stage III presentation, and at benchmark time points 1-, 2-, and 5-years post-diagnosis. The cohort (N=1,918) consisted of patients from major melanoma centers in the US (50.6%) and Australia (49.4%). The first site of distant metastasis was CNS only for 3.9%, CNS and extra-cranial sites (ECS) for 1.9%, and ECS only for 31.2% of patients (N=1918); 15.5% of patients who developed distant metastases (N=708) had CNS involvement at first diagnosis of stage IV disease. Cumulative incidence of CNS metastasis from stage III diagnosis was 3.7% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.9–4.6) at 1-year; 9.6% (95% CI: 8.3–11.0) at 2-years; and 15.9% (95% CI: 14.2–17.7) at 5-years. In multivariable analyses, risk of CNS metastasis was significantly higher for males; younger patients; increasing AJCC stage group; scalp primary tumor site, acral melanoma subtype, and increased primary tumor mitotic rate. Conditional analyses showed that only high primary tumor mitotic rate (>9 per mm2) was significantly associated with risk of subsequent CNS metastasis among patients who survived without CNS recurrence 1-, 2-, and 5-years after the diagnosis of stage III disease. Similar rates of CNS metastasis were observed between these two large, geographically-distinct stage III melanoma patient cohorts. These results provide a framework for developing evidence-based surveillance strategies and for evaluating the impact of contemporary adjuvant therapies on the risk of melanoma CNS metastasis.

Incidence, timing, and predictors of CNS metastasis in patients (Pts) with clinically localized cutaneous melanoma (CM).

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9580-9580
Author(s):  
Merve Hasanov ◽  
Denai R. Milton ◽  
Sapna Pradyuman Patel ◽  
Hussein Abdul-Hassan Tawbi ◽  
Isabella Claudia Glitza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Tumor ◽  
Cumulative Incidence ◽  
Tumor Location ◽  
Initial Diagnosis ◽  
Stage I ◽  
Acral Lentiginous Melanoma ◽  
Primary Tumor Location ◽  
Cns Metastasis ◽  
Increased Risk

9580 Background: Surveillance for CNS metastasis (mets) is not routinely performed in pts with clinically localized CM. Improved understanding of the incidence, timing and risk factors for the development of CNS metastasis in these pts may inform surveillance strategies. Methods: Under an IRB-approved protocol, demographics, tumor characteristics, and clinical events were collected for pts diagnosed from 1998 to 2019 with AJCC 8th edition stage I or II CM at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dates of initial diagnosis, regional, distant non-CNS, and CNS mets were recorded. Symptoms and the extent of disease (brain, LMD, both) were recorded for pts with CNS mets. Cumulative incidence of distant mets (CNS and non-CNS) was determined using the competing risks method, including death; pts without CNS mets and alive at last follow-up were censored. Differences in cumulative incidence between groups were assessed using Gray’s test. Associations between measures of interest and cumulative incidence were determined using proportional subdistribution hazards regression models. All statistical tests used a significance level of 5%. Results: 5,179 Stage I-II CM pts were identified. At a median follow up of 82 (0.0-268.8) months, 703 (13.6%) pts were diagnosed with distant mets, including 355 (6.9%) with CNS mets. Cumulative incidence of CNS mets was 0%, 2%, and 5% at 1, 2, and 5 years, respectively. Among pts with distant mets, the first site of distant mets was CNS only for 29 (4%), non-CNS only for 557 (79%), and both for 116 (17%) pts. At initial diagnosis of CNS mets, 195 (55%) pts were asymptomatic, and 46 (13%) had no active extracranial disease. Median time to any distant met was longer for pts who were diagnosed with CNS mets [40.0 (1.9-238.0) months] vs pts diagnosed with non-CNS mets only [31.4 (1.1-185.7) months, p < 0.001]. On multivariable analysis, risk of CNS mets was significantly associated with primary tumor location of scalp [Hazard Ratio (HR) 3.4, 95% Confidence interval (CI) 1.9-5.9], head/neck (HR 3.3, 95% CI 2.0-5.3), or trunk (HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.5-3.5) (vs upper extremity); acral lentiginous melanoma subtype (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.6) (vs superficial spreading); increased T category (T2 HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.2; T3 HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.0; T4 HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-3.8; vs T1), Clark level (CL) (CL4 HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.7 vs CL2), and mitotic rate (MR) (MR 5-9/mm2 HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-3.0; MR > 9/mm2 HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3-3.0; vs MR 0-4/mm2). While high ( > 9/mm2) MR was associated with increased risk of CNS and non-CNS mets, intermediate (5-9/mm2) was associated with CNS mets only. Conclusions: Primary tumor location, tumor thickness, and MR were strongly associated with risk of CNS mets. MR rate was more strongly associated with risk of CNS than non-CNS mets. Validation in independent cohorts may provide evidence to support CNS surveillance strategies in select pts with stage I-II CM who are deemed high risk for CNS mets.

scholarly journals Multivariate Analysis of Prognostic Factors Among 2,313 Patients With Stage III Melanoma: Comparison of Nodal Micrometastases Versus Macrometastases

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (14) ◽  
pp. 2452-2459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles M. Balch ◽  
Jeffrey E. Gershenwald ◽  
Seng-jaw Soong ◽  
John F. Thompson ◽  
Shouluan Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
Primary Tumor ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Mitotic Rate ◽  
Nodal Metastasis ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Anatomic Site ◽  
Patient Age ◽  
Patient Âgé ◽  
Stage Iii Melanoma

Purpose To determine the survival rates and independent predictors of survival using a contemporary international cohort of patients with stage III melanoma. Patients and Methods Complete clinicopathologic and follow-up data were available for 2,313 patients with stage III disease in an updated and expanded American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) melanoma staging database. Kaplan-Meier and Cox multivariate survival analyses were performed. Results Among all 2,313 patients with stage III disease, 81% had micrometastases, and 19% had clinically detectable macrometastases. The 5-year overall survival was 63%; it was 67% for patients with nodal micrometastases, and it was 43% for those with nodal macrometastases (P < .001). Tremendous heterogeneity in survival was observed, particularly in the microscopically detected nodal metastasis subset (from 23% to 87% for 5-year survival). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that in patients with nodal micrometastases, number of tumor-containing lymph nodes, primary tumor thickness, patient age, ulceration, and anatomic site of the primary independently predicted survival (all P < .01). When added to the model, primary tumor mitotic rate was the second-most powerful predictor of survival after the number of tumor-containing nodes. In contrast, for patients with nodal macrometastases, the number of tumor-containing nodes, primary ulceration, and patient age independently predicted survival (P < .01). Conclusion In this multi-institutional analysis, we demonstrated remarkable heterogeneity of prognosis among patients with stage III melanoma, especially among those with nodal micrometastases. These results should be incorporated into the design and interpretation of future clinical trials involving patients with stage III melanoma.

Conditional Survival: An Assessment of the Prognosis of Patients at Time Points After Initial Diagnosis and Treatment of Locoregional Melanoma Metastasis

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15) ◽  
pp. 1721-1729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren E. Haydu ◽  
Richard A. Scolyer ◽  
Serigne Lo ◽  
Michael J. Quinn ◽  
Robyn P.M. Saw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stage Iii ◽  
Melanoma Metastasis ◽  
Conditional Survival ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Melanoma Diagnosis ◽  
Ajcc Stage ◽  
Systemic Treatments ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Stage Iii Melanoma

Purpose Standard cancer staging and prognostic estimates are determined at the time of the patient’s initial disease presentation. Conditional survival is an alternative, dynamic assessment from follow-up time points after the initial disease diagnosis and is based on the condition of survivorship. Estimates of conditional survival can provide critical prognostic information for patients and clinicians, guide subsequent cancer follow-up schedules, and influence decisions regarding treatments. The current study presents conditional survival estimates developed from a cohort of 4,540 patients diagnosed with stage III melanoma treated at a single institution. Methods Patients with stage III disease at first melanoma diagnosis (initial; n = 2,042), or who developed locoregional metastasis as a first recurrence some time after primary diagnosis (recurrent; n = 2,498), were assessed. Conditional melanoma-specific survival (MSS) estimates up to 5 years after diagnosis were adjusted for age, sex, and 8th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage. Results Older age at diagnosis of stage III disease conveyed a worse prognosis at each conditional survival time point. Males had significantly worse MSS outcomes for up to 2 years of conditional survival, after which males and females had similar MSS. For patients with AJCC stage IIIB and stage IIIC disease, MSS outcomes were similar to those of patients with stage IIIA disease after 3 and 5 years of survivorship, respectively. Conclusion Adjuvant systemic treatments may have the greatest benefit when administered within the first 2 years of stage III melanoma diagnosis, during which period prognosis is significantly worse for male patients of increasing age and AJCC substage. Conditional survival estimates illustrate improved survival prospects for patients with cancer returning for follow-up and may define a finite period of increased risk after diagnosis.

Primary Dermal Melanoma (PDM): Histological and Clinical Interdependence to Guide Therapy

2020 ◽  
pp. 120347542095763
Author(s):  
Hadas Zamir ◽  
Meora Feinmesser ◽  
Haim Gutman
Keyword(s):  
Mitotic Rate ◽  
Primary Treatment ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Sentinel Nodes ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Nodal Dissection ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Tight Correlation ◽  
Better Than

Background/purpose This study examined clinical and histological parameters of primary dermal melanoma (PDM) to aid in its distinction from dermal metastasis. Methods Retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of PDM patients. Includes patients fulfilling the strict histologic criteria for PDM ( N = 9) and patients who did not, but clinically, unequivocally had an intradermal melanoma—clinical PDM (cPDM; N = 17). Histopathology slides were re-examined. Prognosticators and outcome measures were compared between groups. Sentinel nodes’ retrieval and wide local excision (WLE) were offered to all patients as primary treatment. Results 26 patients identified, 15 females with a median age of 69 years (range 3.5-85). Mean Breslow was 7.9 ± 5.7 mm (median 5.8, range 1.8-25.0), and the mean mitotic rate was 4.9 ± 3.8/mm2 (median 4.0, range 0-17). Initial treatment and follow-up were as for cutaneous melanoma. One patient in each group with a palpable stage III underwent primary radical dissection. Sentinel nodes were retrieved in all 20 lymphatic mappings performed and found to be metastatic in 5 (25%) patients. Treatment consisted of completion lymph-node dissection. At a median postoperative follow-up of 62 months (range 8-132), 20 patients were disease-free, including 6 of 7 patients with stage III disease at presentation. Six patients died all of cPDM; 5 of 6 patients had primary ulcerated or epidermal-abutting melanomas. Conclusions This is the first study to highlight cPDM. Diagnosis requires expert pathology review and a tight correlation to the clinical parameters. Patients seem to benefit from WLE with sentinel node retrieval and complete dissection when appropriate. However, clinical guidelines for dissection have changed since the time period of this retrospective review. Based on this series, complete nodal dissection in these melanomas is associated with better than expected outcome, for stage III disease.

scholarly journals Longer Follow-Up Confirms Recurrence-Free Survival Benefit of Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in High-Risk Stage III Melanoma: Updated Results From the EORTC 1325-MG/KEYNOTE-054 Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (33) ◽  
pp. 3925-3936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander M. M. Eggermont ◽  
Christian U. Blank ◽  
Mario Mandala ◽  
Georgina V. Long ◽  
Victoria G. Atkinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lymph Node ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Recurrence Free Survival ◽  
Meaningful Improvement ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Stage Iii Melanoma ◽  
The Impact

PURPOSE We conducted the phase III double-blind European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) 1325/KEYNOTE-054 trial to evaluate pembrolizumab versus placebo in patients with resected high-risk stage III melanoma. On the basis of 351 recurrence-free survival (RFS) events at a 1.25-year median follow-up, pembrolizumab prolonged RFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.57; P < .0001) compared with placebo. This led to the approval of pembrolizumab adjuvant treatment by the European Medicines Agency and US Food and Drug Administration. Here, we report an updated RFS analysis at the 3.05-year median follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 1,019 patients with complete lymph node dissection of American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Manual (seventh edition; AJCC-7), stage IIIA (at least one lymph node metastasis > 1 mm), IIIB, or IIIC (without in-transit metastasis) cutaneous melanoma were randomly assigned to receive pembrolizumab at a flat dose of 200 mg (n = 514) or placebo (n = 505) every 3 weeks for 1 year or until disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity. The two coprimary end points were RFS in the overall population and in those with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)–positive tumors. RESULTS Pembrolizumab (190 RFS events) compared with placebo (283 RFS events) resulted in prolonged RFS in the overall population (3-year RFS rate, 63.7% v 44.1% for pembrolizumab v placebo, respectively; HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.68) and in the PD-L1–positive tumor subgroup (HR, 0.57; 99% CI, 0.43 to 0.74). The impact of pembrolizumab on RFS was similar in subgroups, in particular according to AJCC-7 and AJCC-8 staging, and BRAF mutation status (HR, 0.51 [99% CI, 0.36 to 0.73] v 0.66 [99% CI, 0.46 to 0.95] for V600E/K v wild type). CONCLUSION In resected high-risk stage III melanoma, pembrolizumab adjuvant therapy provided a sustained and clinically meaningful improvement in RFS at 3-year median follow-up. This improvement was consistent across subgroups.

Pembrolizumab versus placebo after complete resection of high-risk stage III melanoma: New recurrence-free survival results from the EORTC 1325-MG/Keynote 054 double-blinded phase III trial at three-year median follow-up.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10000-10000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander M. Eggermont ◽  
Christian U. Blank ◽  
Mario Mandalà ◽  
Georgina V. Long ◽  
Victoria Atkinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lymph Node ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Complete Resection ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Recurrence Free Survival ◽  
Stage Iiia ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Stage Iii Melanoma

10000 Background: We conducted the phase 3 double-blind EORTC 1325/KEYNOTE-054 trial to evaluate pembrolizumab vs placebo in patients (pts) with resected high-risk stage III melanoma. Based on 351 recurrence-free survival (RFS) events and at a median follow-up of 1.25 years (yrs), pembrolizumab improved RFS (hazard ratio (HR) 0.57, P<0.0001) as compared to placebo (Eggermont, NEJM 2018). This led to the approval of pembrolizumab adjuvant treatment by EMA and FDA. Methods: Eligible pts included those ≥18 yrs of age with complete resection of cutaneous melanoma metastatic to lymph node(s), classified as AJCC-7 stage IIIA (at least one lymph node metastasis >1 mm), IIIB or IIIC (without in-transit metastasis). A total of 1019 pts were randomized (stratification by stage and region) to pembrolizumab at a flat dose of 200 mg (N=514) or placebo (N=505) every 3 weeks for a total of 18 doses (~1 year) or until disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity. The 2 co-primary endpoints were RFS in the intention-to-treat overall population and in pts with PD-L1-positive tumors. Here, we report an updated RFS analysis based on a longer follow-up. Results: Overall, 15%/46%/39% of pts had stage IIIA/IIIB/IIIC. At 3.05-yr median follow-up, pembrolizumab (190 RFS events) compared with placebo (283 RFS events) prolonged RFS, in the overall population and in the PD-L1 positive tumor subgroup (see Table). RFS was consistently prolonged across subgroups, in particular according to AJCC-7 staging, BRAF-V600 E/K mutation status. Conclusions: Pembrolizumab, administered at 200 mg every 3 weeks for up to 1 year as adjuvant therapy, provided, at a 3-yr median follow-up, a sustained improvement in RFS, which was clinically meaningful, in resected high-risk stage III melanoma. This improvement was consistent across subgroups. In the overall population, the 3-yr cumulative incidence of distant metastasis being the first recurrence was 22.3% (pembrolizumab group) vs 37.3% (placebo group) (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.44-0.69). Clinical trial information: NCT02362594. [Table: see text]

Long-term follow-up of patients treated by adoptive transfer of melanoma tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes as adjuvant therapy for stage III melanoma

2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 1853-1860 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir Khammari ◽  
Jean-Michel Nguyen ◽  
Marie Christine Pandolfino ◽  
Gaëlle Quereux ◽  
Anabelle Brocard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adjuvant Therapy ◽  
Adoptive Transfer ◽  
Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Melanoma Tumor ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Stage Iii Melanoma ◽  
Infiltrating Lymphocytes

Incidence of New Primary Melanomas After Diagnosis of Stage III and IV Melanoma

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 816-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Zimmer ◽  
Lauren E. Haydu ◽  
Alexander M. Menzies ◽  
Richard A. Scolyer ◽  
Richard F. Kefford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cumulative Incidence ◽  
Braf Inhibitor ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Prior History ◽  
Braf Inhibitors ◽  
History Of ◽  
Stage Iii Melanoma ◽  
Stage Iv Melanoma

Purpose New primary melanomas (NPMs) have developed in some patients with metastatic melanoma treated with BRAF inhibitors. We sought to determine the background incidence of spontaneous NPMs after a diagnosis of American Joint Committee on Cancer/International Union Against Cancer stage III or IV melanoma in patients not treated with a BRAF inhibitor. Patients and Methods Patients diagnosed with stage III or IV melanoma at Melanoma Institute Australia between 1983 and 2008 were analyzed, and those who received a BRAF inhibitor were excluded. Results Two hundred twenty-nine (5%) of 4,215 patients with stage III melanoma and 43 (1%) of 3,563 patients with stage IV melanoma had at least one NPM after diagnosis of stage III or IV disease. The 6-month, 1-year, and 10-year cumulative incidence rates of developing an NPM after stage III melanoma were 1.2% (95% CI, 0.86% to 1.51%), 1.8% (95% CI, 1.44% to 2.26%), and 5.9% (95% CI, 5.08% to 6.74%), respectively. The 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year cumulative incidence rates of NPM after diagnosis of stage IV melanoma were 0.2% (95% CI, 0.07% to 0.36%), 0.3% (95% CI, 0.15% to 0.51%), and 0.4% (95% CI, 0.25% to 0.7%), respectively. In both patients with stage III and stage IV melanoma, male patients and patients with a prior history of multiple primaries had a higher incidence of NPM. Conclusion Patients with stage III and stage IV melanoma remain at risk for development of further primary melanomas, particularly if they have a history of multiple primary melanomas before stage III or IV disease. The incidence rates are lower than those reported in patients receiving BRAF inhibitors. However, the results must be compared with caution because dermatologic assessment is more frequent in BRAF inhibitor trials.

scholarly journals Site and Timing of First Relapse in Stage III Melanoma Patients: Implications for Follow-Up Guidelines

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (18) ◽  
pp. 3042-3047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuela Romano ◽  
Michael Scordo ◽  
Stephen W. Dusza ◽  
Daniel G. Coit ◽  
Paul B. Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Stage Iii ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Stage Iiia ◽  
Stage Iiic ◽  
Relapse Time ◽  
First Relapse ◽  
Stage Iii Melanoma ◽  
Clinical Records ◽  
In Transit

Purpose Stage III melanoma is associated with a high risk of relapse and mortality. Nevertheless, follow-up guidelines have largely been empirical rather than evidence-based. Patients and Methods Clinical records of stage III patients with no evidence of disease seen at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) between 1992 and 2004, who ultimately relapsed, were reviewed retrospectively to evaluate date of first relapse, time to first relapse, method of first relapse detection, and survival. We also determined overall 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) of all stage III patients seen at MSKCC during this period. Results The overall 5-year RFS for stage IIIA, IIIB, and IIIIC patients was 63%, 32%, and 11%, respectively. Among relapsing patients, 340 had adequate follow-up to be evaluable for all parameters. Site of first relapse was local/in-transit (28%), regional nodal (21%), or systemic (51%). First relapses were detected by the patient or family, physician, or by screening radiologic tests in 47%, 21%, and 32% of patients, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that better overall survival was associated with younger age and first relapse being local/in-transit or nodal, asymptomatic, or resectable. For each substage, we estimated site-specific risk of first relapse. Conclusion Patients detected almost half of first relapses. Our data suggest that routine physical examinations beyond 3 years for stage IIIA, 2 years for stage IIIB, and 1 year for stage IIIC patients and radiologic imaging beyond 3 years for stages IIIA and IIIB and 2 years for stage IIIC patients would be expected to detect few first systemic relapses.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document