Use of Completion Lymph Node Dissection for Sentinel Lymph Node-Positive Melanoma

Survival Correlates With Adjuvant Choice in Sentinel Node Positive Head and Neck Cutaneous Melanoma

OBJECTIVE(S)

The objective of this study is to evaluate the utilization and outcomes of completion lymph node dissection (CLND) and immunotherapy for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) positive head and neck cutaneous melanoma (HNCM).

METHODS

Patients with primary HNCM and positive SLNB in the 2020 National Cancer Database (NCDB) Melanoma file were reviewed. The frequency of CLND and immunotherapy was tracked from 2012 to 2019. Clinicodemographic features of patients were evaluated with respect to their post-SLNB treatment choice. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the time of diagnosis, and the association of therapy choice with survival was determined using a multivariate Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

The rates of CLND declined from 66% to 18% while adjuvant immunotherapy increased to a peak of approximately 40%, with an inflection point occurring in 2016. Multivariate survival analysis indicated that immunotherapy use alone, though not CLND, was associated with improved prognosis (hazard ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.93). Patient characteristics associated with immunotherapy administration included age (p < 0.01), insurance type (p = 0.002), income (p < 0.001), and healthcare facility type (p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective NCDB-based study, we find that the modern management of SLNB-positive patients has shifted towards greater use of adjuvant immunotherapy and a decline in CLND; the use of immunotherapy is associated with improved OS. Patients treated with immunotherapy were more likely to be younger, of higher income, and with private health insurance.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4

National Trends in Management of the Nodal Basin for Pediatric Patients With Occult Stage III Melanoma in the United States

BACKGROUND

Following the publication of recent trials (MSLT-I, MSLT-II, DeCOG), routine completion lymph node dissection (CLND) after positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is no longer recommended for adults with melanoma, while adjuvant immunotherapy (IO) was approved for selected patients with positive SLNB. Given the exclusion of pediatric patients from these studies, we aimed to characterize trends in nodal management for pediatric patients with Stage III melanoma.

PROCEDURE

The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for pediatric patients (age ≤20 years) with melanoma (clinical Stage I/II; pathologic Stage III) who underwent resection from 2012 to 2019. The primary objective was to examine trends in the extent of nodal surgery, the number of lymph nodes examined, and adjuvant IO utilization. Secondary objectives included comparing overall survival (OS) by nodal management and receipt of adjuvant IO using Kaplan-Meier methods.

RESULTS

Overall, 98 patients met inclusion criteria. From 2012 to 2019, the percentage of patients receiving SLNB alone increased (from 13% to 89%); conversely, therapeutic lymph node dissection (TLND) decreased (from 60% to 0%), as did CLND (from 27% to 11%). Median lymph nodes examined decreased from 2012 to 2019 (from 22 to 2), while receipt of adjuvant IO increased (from 33% to 44%). OS did not differ by nodal management nor receipt of adjuvant IO.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study support clinical observation after SLNB in pediatric patients with melanoma, as we noted de-escalation in the extent of nodal surgery without compromising OS. We also noted increasing utilization of adjuvant IO among patients with positive SLNB. Multidisciplinary discussion remains vital for managing melanoma in pediatric patients.

Lymph Node Dissection for Melanoma: Contemporary Trends in Postoperative Outcomes and Patient Selection With Reduced Case Volumes in the Post-MSLT2 Era

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Since the publication of the German Cooperative Oncology Group Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial and Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial II (MSLT2) trials, the treatment paradigm for node-positive melanoma has shifted from completion lymph node dissection (LND) to nodal ultrasound surveillance. We sought to identify the impact of this practice change on postoperative outcomes in a national cohort.

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for patients diagnosed with truncal/extremity malignant melanoma who underwent axillary/inguinal LND. Patients diagnosed with head/neck melanoma with subsequent cervical LND were also analyzed separately. Trends in case volumes, clinicodemographic patient characteristics, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

There has been a reduction of patients undergoing axillary/inguinal LND in the post-MSLT2 era (24.1% vs. 19.0%, p < 0.01). Furthermore, these patients are older (63 vs. 59 years, p < 0.01) and have worse systemic comorbidities (ASA class 3+ +54% vs. 42%, p <0.01). Despite this, postoperative outcomes remain unchanged. For cervical LND, no significant changes in case volumes or clinicodemographic factors were found. Apart from an increase in superficial skin infections in the post-MSLT2 cohort, postoperative outcomes remain largely unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

Continued efforts should be made to optimize patient selection and maintain acceptable postoperative morbidity for LND as it becomes more sparingly utilized in the care of patients with melanoma.

The incidence and cost implications of surgical site infection following lymph node surgery for skin malignancy

BACKGROUND

Lymph node surgery is commonly performed in the staging and treatment of metastatic skin cancer. Previous studies have demonstrated sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and, particularly, lymph node dissection (LND) to be plagued by high rates of wound complications, including surgical site infection (SSI) and seroma formation. This study evaluated the incidence of wound complications following lymph node surgery and provided the first published cost estimate of SSI associated with lymph node surgery in the UK.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of 169 patients with a histological diagnosis of primary skin malignancy who underwent SLNB or LND of the axilla and/or inguinal region at a single tertiary centre over a 2 year period was conducted. Demographic, patient risk factor, and operation characteristics data were collected and effect on SSI and seroma formation was analysed. Cost-per-infection was estimated using National Health Service (NHS) reference and antibiotic costs.

RESULTS

A total of 146 patients underwent SLNB with a SSI rate of 4.1% and a seroma incidence of 12.3%. Twenty-three patients underwent LND with a SSI rate of 39.1% and a seroma incidence of 39.1%. Seroma formation was strongly associated with the development of SSI in both the SLNB (odds ratio (OR) = 18.0, p < 0.001) and LND (OR = 21.0, p = 0.007) group. The median additional cost of care events and treatment of SSI in the SLNB and LND groups was £199.46 and £5187.04, respectively.

CONCLUSION

SSI remains a troublesome and costly event following SLNB and LND. Further research into perioperative care protocols and methods of reducing lymph node surgery morbidity is required and could result in significant cost savings to the NHS.

International Center-Level Variation in Utilization of Completion Lymph Node Dissection and Adjuvant Systemic Therapy for Sentinel Lymph Node-Positive Melanoma at Major Referral Centers

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine overall trends and center-level variation in utilization of completion lymph node dissection (CLND) and adjuvant systemic therapy for sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive melanoma.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Based on recent clinical trials, management options for SLN-positive melanoma now include effective adjuvant systemic therapy and nodal observation instead of CLND. It is unknown how these findings have shaped practice or how these contemporaneous developments have influenced their respective utilization.

METHODS

We performed an international cohort study at 21 melanoma referral centers in Australia, Europe, and the United States that treated adults with SLN-positive melanoma and negative distant staging from July 2017 to June 2019. We used generalized linear and multinomial logistic regression models with random intercepts for each center to assess center-level variation in CLND and adjuvant systemic treatment, adjusting for patient and disease-specific characteristics.

RESULTS

Among 1109 patients, performance of CLND decreased from 28% to 8% and adjuvant systemic therapy use increased from 29 to 60%. For both CLND and adjuvant systemic treatment, the most influential factors were nodal tumor size, stage, and location of treating center. There was notable variation among treating centers in management of stage IIIA patients and use of CLND with adjuvant systemic therapy versus nodal observation alone for similar risk patients.

CONCLUSIONS

There has been an overall decline in CLND and simultaneous adoption of adjuvant systemic therapy for patients with SLN-positive melanoma though wide variation in practice remains. Accounting for differences in patient mix, location of care contributed significantly to the observed variation.

Does Stage Migration Occur as a Consequence of Omitting Completion Lymph Node Dissection for Melanoma?

INTRODUCTION

Completion lymph node dissection (CLND) is no longer recommended routinely in the treatment of melanoma. CLND omission may understage patients for whom the distinction between stage IIIA and IIIB-C could alter adjuvant therapy recommendations. The aim of this study is to determine if stage migration has occurred with the declining use of CLND.

METHODS

Patients with clinically node-negative ≥ T1b cutaneous melanoma were identified from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2012 to 2018. CLND utilization and changes in AJCC staging were analyzed. Patients undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone were compared with those undergoing SLNB + CLND.

RESULTS

Overall, 68,933 patients met inclusion criteria and 60,536 underwent SLNB, of which 9031 (14.9%) were tumor positive. CLND was performed in 3776 (41.8%). Patients undergoing CLND were younger (58 versus 62 years, p < 0.0001) and more likely male (61.5% versus 57.9%, p = 0.0005). Patients were more likely to have an N classification >N1a if they received SLNB + CLND (36.8%) versus SLNB alone (19.3%), p < 0.0001. This translated to a small difference in stage IIIA patients between groups (SLNB alone 34.0%, SLNB + CLND 31.8%, p < 0.0001). Of the patients with T1b/T2a tumors who would be upstaged from IIIA to IIIC with identification of additional positive nodes, IIIC incidence was only slightly higher after SLNB + CLND compared with SLNB alone (4.4% versus 1.1%, p < 0.0001). CLND utilization dramatically decreased from 59% in 2012 to 12.6% in 2018, p < 0.0001. However, the incidence of stage IIIA disease for all patients remained stable over the 7-year study period.

CONCLUSIONS

While the utilization of CLND after positive SLNB has declined dramatically in the last 7 years, stage migration that may affect adjuvant therapy decisions has not occurred to a clinically meaningful degree.

Higher rates of regional disease but improved outcomes in pediatric versus adult melanoma

BACKGROUND

Malignant melanoma is rare in the pediatric population and management is largely extrapolated from adult guidelines. Adult data have shown that immediate completion lymph node dissection (CLND) does not improve overall survival in selected patients with clinically node negative, sentinel lymph node-positive disease. Current nodal management in children is unknown.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for patients with melanoma from 2012-2017 and patients categorized as pediatric (≤18 years, n=962) or adult (n=327,987). Factors associated with CLND in children with positive SLNB were evaluated in multivariable analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Compared to adults, children present with thicker primary tumors (T3 or T4 26.5% vs 15.5%, p<0.001), resulting in higher rates of nodal assessment with SLN biopsy or LND (60.2% vs 36.6%, p<0.001) and higher rates of regional nodal disease (35.1% vs 23.4%, p<0.001). Children underwent higher rates of CLND after SLN biopsy (10.4% vs 4.1%) and upfront lymph node dissection (15.2% vs 8.7%). A decreased rate of CLND was noted in 2017 compared to 2012 (odds ratio (OR) 0.16 (p=0.005). CLND was performed more often on multivariable analysis for older pediatric age (>12 years, OR=1.6, p=0.037) and lower extremity primary (OR=0.29, p<0.001). Children with regional nodal disease have improved 3-year overall survival compared to adults (96.5% vs 71.0%, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Children with melanoma have higher rates of nodal disease but better survival than adults. As in adults, there has been a recent increase in close nodal observation rather than CLND for patients with positive SLN. Further study of nodal surveillance for pediatric patients is warranted.

Evidence and implementation gaps in management of sentinel node-positive melanoma in the United States

BACKGROUND

Melanoma clinical trials demonstrated that completion lymph node dissection is low value for most sentinel lymph node-positive patients. Contemporaneous trials of adjuvant systemic immunotherapy and BRAF/MEK targeted therapy showed improved recurrence-free survival in high-risk sentinel lymph node-positive patients. To better understand how oncologic evidence is incorporated into practice (implementation), we evaluated factors associated with discontinuation of completion lymph node dissection and adoption of systemic treatment at United States Commission on Cancer-accredited centers.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort study of adults with sentinel lymph node-positive melanoma treated from 2012 to 2017 using the National Cancer Database, we evaluated use of completion lymph node dissection and adjuvant systemic treatment using mixed-effects logistic regression, reporting results as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Among 10,240 sentinel lymph node-positive melanoma patients, performance of completion lymph node dissection declined from 60% to 27%. Adjuvant systemic treatment increased from 29% to 43% (37% in stage IIIA patients, 46% in IIIB-C). Completion lymph node dissection was less common with lower extremity tumors (odds ratio = 0.53, 95% confidence interval = 0.44-0.64) and more common with multiple positive sentinel lymph nodes (odds ratio = 2.36, 95% confidence interval = 2.08-2.67), treatment at a high- or moderate-volume center (odds ratiohigh = 1.49, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-2.12; odds ratiomoderate = 1.32, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.64), and receipt of systemic therapy (odds ratio = 1.44, 95% confidence interval = 1.27-1.63). The increased likelihood of completion lymph node dissection in patients receiving adjuvant systemic treatment persisted in the most recent study years and in patients with a single positive sentinel lymph node.

CONCLUSION

At a population level, completion lymph node dissection declined and adjuvant systemic treatment increased, reflecting evidence-responsive care. Variation in persistent use of completion lymph node dissection and in provision of adjuvant treatment for lower risk patients highlights residual gaps in both evidence and implementation.

Quality of Life Predictors in Patients With Melanoma: A Machine Learning Approach

Health related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important recognized health outcome for cancer treatments, but also disease course with slower recovery and increased morbidity. These issues are of implication in melanoma, which maintains a risk of disease progression for many years after diagnosis. This study aimed to explore and weigh factors in the perception of the quality of life and possible relationships with demographic–clinical characteristics in people with melanoma via a machine learning approach. In this observational study, patients with melanoma, without metastatic disease, were recruited from January 2020 to December 2021 with a follow-up of at least one year. Demographic variables and clinics were collected, and the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) was adopted as the physical and mental aspects of the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) measure. All the variables were processed in a random forest model to weigh at each node of each tree of this machine learning regression model, their actual weight in SF-12 score. We included 203 melanoma patients, mean aged 59.25 ± 15.1 years: 56 (27%) affecting the upper limbs and 147 (73%) affecting the trunk. The model of 142 patients with no missing value, generating 92 trees (MSE = 0.45, R2 of 0.78), reported that the lesion site was the most influencing variable on HRQoL based on the decrease in Gini impurity in variable weighing at each node intersection in forest generation. In this scenario, we built two distinct models for lesion sites and demonstrated that the variable that most influenced the quality of life in upper limb melanoma was lymphedema, while BMI was in the trunk. Given these results, random forest regressions could play a crucial role in the clinical and rehabilitation approach. The machine-learning model for detecting the HRQoL predictor in melanoma patients indicates that the experienced lymphedema and BMI may influence the HRQoL perception. This study suggests that the prevention and treatment of lymphedema and bodyweight reduction might improve the quality of life in melanoma.

Impact of the changes in the completion lymph node dissection criteria and approval of adjuvant therapies on the real-world outcomes of Japanese stage III melanoma patients

BACKGROUND

Completion lymph node dissection (CLND) has long been the standard treatment for stage III melanomas identified as metastasis on the sentinel node (SN-positive). Two major changes occurred in 2017 and 2018, the change in the CLND criteria for SN-positive patients and the approval of several adjuvant therapies could revolutionize such management approach. However, their effects have not been fully investigated on the real-world outcomes of stage III melanoma patients. Therefore, we investigated the impact of these changes on the prognosis of Japanese stage III melanoma patients.

METHODS

Totally, 119 stage III, SN-positive melanoma patients were included. They were categorized into those diagnosed as SN-positive between January 2015 and June 2017 (pre-June 2017 group) and between July 2017 and December 2019 (post-July 2017 group). Recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival, and prognostic factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

The frequency of patients who received CLND was significantly higher in the pre-June 2017 group (p = 0.001), and those who received adjuvant therapy were significantly higher in the post-July 2017 group (p < 0.001). The 2-year RFS was 50.1% and 68.5% in the pre-June and post-July 2017 groups, respectively (p = 0.049). Cox proportional hazards model analysis for RFS showed that adjuvant therapies reduce the risk of recurrence (hazard ratio 0.37; 95% confidence interval 0.14-0.99; p = 0.047).

CONCLUSION

Changes in the CLND criteria in SN-positive patients and the approval of adjuvant therapies for stage III melanomas have significantly impacted Japanese melanoma medicine. Adjuvant therapy tended to prolong patient's RFS while omitting immediate CLND had no significant negative influence on it.

Adjuvant Therapy for Stage III Melanoma Without Immediate Completion Lymph Node Dissection

INTRODUCTION

For patients with stage III melanoma with occult lymph node metastasis, the use of adjuvant therapy is increasing, and completion lymph node dissection (CLND) is decreasing. We sought to evaluate the use of modern adjuvant therapy and outcomes for patients with stage III melanoma who did not undergo CLND.

METHODS

Patients with a positive SLNB from 2015 to 2020 who did not undergo CLND were evaluated retrospectively. Nodal recurrence, recurrence-free survival (RFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and melanoma-specific survival were evaluated.

RESULTS

Among 90 patients, 56 (62%) received adjuvant therapy and 34 (38%) underwent observation alone. Patients who received adjuvant therapy were younger (mean age: 53 vs. 65, p < 0.001) and had higher overall stage (Stage IIIb/c 75% vs. 54%, p = 0.041). Disease recurred in 12 of 34 patients (35%) in the observation group and 11 of 56 patients (20%) in the adjuvant therapy group. The most common first site of recurrence was distant recurrence alone (5/34 patients) in the observation group and nodal recurrence alone (8/90 patients) in the adjuvant therapy group. Despite more adverse nodal features in the adjuvant therapy group, 24-month nodal recurrence rate and RFS were not significantly different between the adjuvant and observation cohorts (nodal recurrence rate: 26% vs. 20%, p = 0.68; RFS: 75% vs. 61%, p = 0.39). Among patients with stage IIIb/c disease, adjuvant therapy was associated with a significantly improved 24-month DMFS (86% vs. 59%, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

In this early report, modern adjuvant therapy in patients who forego CLND is associated with longer DMFS among patients with stage IIIb/c disease.

Pathologic nodal staging for clinically node negative soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Synovial, clear cell, angiosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and epithelioid (SCARE) soft tissue sarcoma are at risk for nodal involvement, although the nodal positivity rates and impact on prognostication in clinically node negative patients are not well described.

METHODS

Patients with extremity SCARE sarcoma without clinical nodal involvement undergoing surgical resection in the National Cancer Database (2004-2017) were included. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the likelihood of nodal surgery and nodal positivity. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were used to assess associations of nodal status to overall survival.

RESULTS

We included 4158 patients, and 669 patients (16%) underwent regional lymph node surgery (RLNS). On multivariable logistic analysis, patients with epithelioid (odds ratio [OR]: 3.77; p < .001) and clear cell (OR: 6.38; p < .001) were most likely to undergo RLNS. Forty-five patients (7%) had positive nodes. Clear cell sarcoma (14%) and angiosarcoma (13%) had the highest rates of nodal positivity. Patients with positive nodes had reduced 5-year overall survival, and the stratification was largest in clear cell and angiosarcoma.

CONCLUSION

Discordance exists between selection for pathologic nodal evaluation and factors associated with nodal positivity. Clinically node negative patients with clear cell and angiosarcoma should be considered for pathologic nodal evaluation.

Active surveillance of patients who have sentinel node positive melanoma: An international, multi-institution evaluation of adoption and early outcomes after the Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial II (MSLT-2)

BACKGROUND

For patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive cutaneous melanoma, the Second Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy trial demonstrated equivalent disease-specific survival (DSS) with active surveillance using nodal ultrasound versus completion lymph node dissection (CLND). Adoption and outcomes of active surveillance in clinical practice and in adjuvant therapy recipients are unknown.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort of SLN-positive adults treated at 21 institutions in Australia, Europe, and the United States from June 2017 to November 2019, the authors evaluated the impact of active surveillance and adjuvant therapy on all-site recurrence-free survival (RFS), isolated nodal RFS, distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and DSS using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

Among 6347 SLN biopsies, 1154 (18%) were positive and had initial negative distant staging. In total, 965 patients (84%) received active surveillance, 189 (16%) underwent CLND. Four hundred thirty-nine patients received adjuvant therapy (surveillance, 38%; CLND, 39%), with the majority (83%) receiving anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. After a median follow-up of 11 months, 220 patients developed recurrent disease (surveillance, 19%; CLND, 22%), and 24 died of melanoma (surveillance, 2%; CLND, 4%). Sixty-eight patients had an isolated nodal recurrence (surveillance, 6%; CLND, 4%). In patients who received adjuvant treatment without undergoing prior CLND, all isolated nodal recurrences were resectable. On risk-adjusted multivariable analyses, CLND was associated with improved isolated nodal RFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.36; 95% CI, 0.15-0.88), but not all-site RFS (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.45-1.02). Adjuvant therapy improved all-site RFS (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.47-0.57). DSS and DMFS did not differ by nodal management or adjuvant treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Active surveillance has been adopted for most SLN-positive patients. At initial assessment, real-world outcomes align with randomized trial findings, including in adjuvant therapy recipients.

LAY SUMMARY

For patients with melanoma of the skin and microscopic spread to lymph nodes, monitoring with ultrasound is an alternative to surgically removing the remaining lymph nodes. The authors studied adoption and real-world outcomes of ultrasound monitoring in over 1000 patients treated at 21 centers worldwide, finding that most patients now have ultrasounds instead of surgery. Although slightly more patients have cancer return in the lymph nodes with this strategy, typically, it can be removed with delayed surgery. Compared with up-front surgery, ultrasound monitoring results in the same overall risk of melanoma coming back at any location or of dying from melanoma.