Prognosis of acral melanoma: a series of 281 patients

CRKL silencing inhibits melanoma growth and enhances its chemotherapy sensitivity through the PI3K/AKT and NLRP3/GSDMD pathways

Great advances have been made in malignant melanoma treatments, whereas drug resistance still limits many drug applications. CRKL has been reported to be overexpressed in various tumors and showed poor prognosis. However, its specific function and mechanism in melanoma remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the expression of CRKL and its clinical association by bioinformatics and clinical analysis, and then performed a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments to demonstrate its function and mechanism. Results showed that CRKL increased during melanoma progression and was strongly associated with poor prognosis. CRKL silencing effectively inhibited melanoma cell growth and invasion via ERK/MMP9 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, CRKL silencing induced pyroptosis in melanoma cells by upregulating the levels of pyroptosis-associated proteins, such as NLRP3, cleaved Caspase-1, and GSDMD-N. Importantly, our study demonstrated that interfering with CRKL expression enhanced the chemotherapy sensitivity of melanoma cells to cisplatin by regulating PI3K/AKT and NLRP3/GSDMD signaling pathways. In conclusion, our study uncovers a novel molecular mechanism by which CRKL functions in melanoma and highlights potential therapeutic strategies for improving chemotherapy sensitivity in melanoma patients.

Acral Melanoma in the Caucasian Population: A Comprehensive Cohort Study on Epidemiological, Clinicopathological, and Prognostic Features

BACKGROUND

Acral melanoma is associated with poor prognosis. Studying the characteristics and prognosis of Caucasian patients is crucial to understand the distinct features of this tumor.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the epidemiological, clinicopathological, and prognostic features of acral melanoma in Caucasian patients.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, cohort study of acral melanoma from a database across 20 hospitals from South Europe from January 2000 to December 2019.

RESULTS

A total of 733 acral melanomas were identified (median age, 67.5 years; 95.2%, Caucasians; 77.5% of which were located on the feet). Overall, 77.5% of cases were invasive melanomas. Foot melanomas had a higher proportion of invasive cases (80.8% vs 69.8%; p=0.003), stages III and IV at diagnosis (24.8% vs 11.7%; p<0.001), thicker Breslow depth (2.8mm vs 2.0mm; p=0.021) and a higher rate of positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) (30.7% vs 15.7%; p=0.012). Thicker Breslow depth and later age of onset were risk factors for melanoma-specific survival. Thicker Breslow depth and ulceration were independent prognostic factors of relapse-free survival. Melanoma location and histopathological subtype were not associated with worse prognosis. Recurrences were a common finding (27.7%), with distant metastases appearing earlier than locoregional recurrences (1.32 years [IQR, 1.12-1.87] vs 2.14 years [IQR, 1.68-2.70]; p=0.015).

CONCLUSION

This study, the largest in a predominantly Caucasian population, underscores the unfavorable outcomes of acral melanoma. Foot melanomas exhibited delayed detection, increased invasiveness, thicker Breslow depth, increased SLNB involvement, and higher AJCC stages. The high recurrence rate and early distant metastases emphasize the critical role of intensive follow-up and routine imaging modalities to detect asymptomatic relapses.

Acral Melanoma in the Caucasian Population: A Comprehensive Cohort Study on Epidemiological, Clinicopathological, and Prognostic Features

BACKGROUND

Acral melanoma is associated with poor prognosis. Studying the characteristics and prognosis of Caucasian patients is crucial to understand the distinct features of this tumor.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the epidemiological, clinicopathological, and prognostic features of acral melanoma in Caucasian patients.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, cohort study of acral melanoma from a database across 20 hospitals from South Europe from January 2000 to December 2019.

RESULTS

A total of 733 acral melanomas were identified (median age, 67.5 years; 95.2%, Caucasians; 77.5% of which were located on the feet). Overall, 77.5% of cases were invasive melanomas. Foot melanomas had a higher proportion of invasive cases (80.8% vs. 69.8%; P=0.003), stages III and IV at diagnosis (24.8% vs. 11.7%; P<0.001), thicker Breslow depth (2.8mm vs. 2.0mm; P=0.021) and a higher rate of positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (30.7% vs. 15.7%; P=0.012). Thicker Breslow depth and later age of onset were risk factors for melanoma-specific survival. Thicker Breslow depth and ulceration were independent prognostic factors of relapse-free survival. Melanoma location and histopathological subtype were not associated with worse prognosis. Recurrences were a common finding (27.7%), with distant metastases appearing earlier than locorregional recurrences (1.32 years [IQR, 1.12-1.87] vs. 2.14 years [IQR, 1.68-2.70]; P=0.015).

CONCLUSION

This study, the largest in a predominantly Caucasian population, underscores the unfavorable outcomes of acral melanoma. Foot melanomas exhibited delayed detection, increased invasiveness, thicker Breslow depth, increased sentinel lymph node biopsy involvement, and higher AJCC stages. The high recurrence rate and early distant metastases emphaise the critical role of intensive follow-up and routine imaging modalities to detect asymptomatic relapses.

Genomic characterization reveals distinct mutational landscape of acral melanoma in East Asian

Acral melanoma, the most common melanoma subtype in East Asia, is associated with a poor prognosis. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the genomic characteristics of acral melanoma in East Asians. We conduct whole-genome sequencing of 55 acral melanoma tumors and perform data mining with relevant clinical data. Our findings reveal a unique mutational profile in East Asian acral melanoma, characterized by fewer point mutations and structural variations, a higher prevalence of NRAS mutations, and a lower frequency of BRAF mutations compared to patients of European descent. Notably, we identify previously underestimated ultraviolet radiation signatures and their significant association with BRAF and NRAS mutations. Structural rearrangement signatures indicate distinct mutational processes in BRAF-driven versus NRAS-driven tumors. We also find that homologous recombination deficiency with MAPK pathway mutations correlated with poor prognosis. The structural variations and amplifications in EP300, TERT, RAC1, and LZTR1 point to potential therapeutic targets tailored to East Asian populations. The high prevalence of whole-genome duplication events in BRAF/NRAS-mutated tumors suggests a synergistic carcinogenic effect that warrants further investigation. In summary, our study provides important insights into the genetic underpinnings of acral melanoma in East Asians, creating opportunities for targeted therapies.

Socioeconomic status correlates with clinical outcomes in patients with acral melanoma

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the impact of socioeconomic status on survival in Chinese patients with acral melanoma.

Methods

We collected clinical and socioeconomic information of 298 primary acral melanoma patients and performed Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank tests, Cox proportional hazards models, and Pearson's chi-squared tests to evaluate the relationships between clinical characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and survival outcomes.

Results

Among the clinical characteristics, age, gender, stage, Breslow thickness, and primary tumor site significantly impacted survival in acral melanoma patients (p = 0.01, p = 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, respectively). Compared to individual socioeconomic factors such as education, occupation, medical insurance, and marital status, the socioeconomic level derived from these four dimensions accurately predicted patient survival. Patients with higher socioeconomic status demonstrated significantly reduced mortality risk (HR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.40-0.91, p = 0.02). However, socioeconomic level was not found to be an independent prognostic factor for acral melanoma patients after multivariable adjustment. Notably, a negative correlation was observed between socioeconomic level and Breslow thickness.

Conclusion

Socioeconomic level is associated with survival in Chinese acral melanoma patients. However, this association may be attributable to Breslow thickness rather than socioeconomic status itself.

CDK4 gene copy number increase and concurrent genetic changes in acral melanoma of a Chinese cohort

Acral melanoma (AM) is the most common subtype of melanoma in the Asian population. Abnormalities in the p16-cyclin D1-CDK4 signalling pathway play a crucial role in the development and progression of AM. However, the CDK4 copy number variations (CNVs) in AM are under-reported. In this study, we investigated CDK4 gene copy number and concurrent molecular changes in a Chinese cohort with AM, to explore CDK4 CNVs and their significance in AM. We examined CDK4 CNVs with fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) in 31 patients with AM. Six patients with CDK4 high-level copy number increase were examined by next-generation sequencing to detect concurrent molecular changes. Using FISH, 12 (12/31, 38.7%) cases showed CDK4 copy number increase, with six (6/31, 19.4%) low-level copy number increase and six (6/31, 19.4%) high-level copy number increase. Five of six CDK4 low-level copy number increase cases were accompanied by polysomy of chromosome 12, while one case was not. Two of six CDK4 high-level copy number increase cases were accompanied by polysomy of chromosome 12, while four cases were not. CDK4 copy number increase was significantly correlated with younger patient age. In six CDK4 high-level copy number increase cases, one case was found to be accompanied by NRAS mutation, one case was accompanied by HER2 mutation, one case was accompanied by BCL2L11 mutation ​and one case was accompanied by BRAF, HER2 and BCL2L11 mutations. Our study confirmed the presence of CDK4 copy number increase in AM cases. Detecting CDK4 copy number increase by FISH can be reliable in the diagnosis of AM. Some CDK4 copy number increases are the results of polysomy of chromosome 12. CDK4 high-level copy number increase coexists with other pathogenic mutations in AM. CDK4 appears to be a promising target for AM treatment and is expected to be combined with other targeted therapies.

Survival Outcomes of a Large Cohort of Acral Melanoma Patients Treated at a South African Referral Hospital

Acral melanoma (AM) is the most common type of melanoma arising in people with skin of color. AM is often diagnosed late and associated with poor outcomes. Melanoma outcomes are also impacted by socioeconomic status. Although uncommon, AM is a public health concern in South Africa because of its epidemiology and association with health access issues, which predispose to late diagnosis. South African patients are managed based on staging systems and treatment guidelines developed for other populations. This cohort study aimed to determine the survival outcomes in a cohort of South African AM patients and how these were associated with demographic, clinical, pathological, and management data. The study included patients diagnosed at a referral hospital between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2021. Analysis occurred in 2022 and 2023. The main outcomes of interest were survival time in months (overall and progression-free, OS and PFS). Survival outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Survival probabilities were compared between subgroups using log-rank tests. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazards models to assess factors associated with survival. Ninety-one patients were included in the analysis. After a median follow-up of 28 months (range: 0-151 months), 48 patients (52.7%) had died. The 3- and 5-year survival rates for the entire cohort were 64.8% and 56.0% respectively. Notably, the OS and PFS were not affected by the population group (p value = 0.628, not significant). The examination of OS and PFS by the clinical stage group demonstrated proportional hazard. Although SLNB comprised a small group, the results appear to be prognostically valid, specifically for OS. The results indicate that the AJCC eighth edition staging is broadly applicable to AM in this population; however, a rigorous comparison was not possible. SLNB appears to be prognostically valid. No difference in survival outcomes by population group was shown.

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition leads to regression of acral melanoma by targeting the tumor microenvironment

BACKGROUND

Acral melanoma (AM) is an aggressive melanoma variant that arises from palmar, plantar, and nail unit melanocytes. Compared to non-acral cutaneous melanoma (CM), AM is biologically distinct, has an equal incidence across genetic ancestries, typically presents in advanced stage disease, is less responsive to therapy, and has an overall worse prognosis.

METHODS

An independent analysis of published sequencing data was performed to evaluate the frequency of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands and adapter protein gene variants and expression. To target these genetic variants, a zebrafish acral melanoma model and preclinical patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models were treated with a panel of RTK inhibitors. Residual PDX tumors were evaluated for changes in proliferation, vasculature, necrosis, and ferroptosis by histology and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

RTK ligands and adapter proteins are frequently amplified, translocated, and/or overexpressed in AM. Dual FGFR/VEGFR inhibitors decrease acral-analogous melanocyte proliferation and migration in zebrafish, and the potent pan-FGFR/VEGFR inhibitor, Lenvatinib, uniformly induces tumor regression in AM PDX tumors but only slows tumor growth in CM models. Unlike other multi-RTK inhibitors, Lenvatinib is not directly cytotoxic to dissociated AM PDX tumor cells and instead disrupts tumor architecture and vascular networks.

CONCLUSION

Considering the great difficulty in establishing AM cell culture lines, these findings suggest that AM may be more sensitive to microenvironment perturbations than CM. In conclusion, dual FGFR/VEGFR inhibition may be a viable therapeutic strategy that targets the unique biology of AM.

Acral Melanoma Incidence and Survival Trends in 1990-2020: A Nationwide, Population-based Study

Acral melanoma is a clinical subtype of melanoma with high mortality, on which research is limited in scope. This study aimed to assess incidence trends and melanoma-specific survival rates for acral melanoma in the Swedish population from 1990 to 2020.This cross-sectional study included patients with an acral melanoma diagnosis from 1990 to 2020 from the nationwide, population-based Swedish Melanoma Registry. Analyses on acral melanoma melanoma-specific survival rates were adjusted for age, sex, histopathological subtype, and tumour thickness. Clinicopathological features and melanoma-specific survival rates were compared between diagnostic periods: 1990-1999, 2000-2009, and 2010-2020, respectively. Changes in standardized incidence rates in 1996-2020 were evaluated separately for males and females. In total, 1,000 acral melanomas in 999 patients were included in the study. No significant yearly change in standardized incidence rates for either males or females was observed, even though the absolute number of cases increased. Factors such as male sex, age ≥ 70 years, and Breslow thickness > 1.0 were independently linked to lower melanoma-specific survival. The 5-year melanoma-specific survival across the studied period ranged from 75.8% to 77.9% for females, and from 62.4% to 71.7% for males.

Depth of invasion analysis to predict acral melanoma outcomes

BACKGROUND

Acral melanoma is a subtype with worse outcomes. The Breslow micrometric measurement is the most critical parameter in planning treatment and predicting outcomes. However, for acral lentiginous melanoma, the value of the Breslow thickness is a matter of debate. Depth of Invasion (DOI) is a well-established measure for staging oral squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

This study compared DOI and Breslow thickness for predicting acral melanoma outcomes.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study of 71 acral melanoma lesions subjected to sentinel lymph node biopsy at one Brazilian referral center.

RESULTS

Cox model univariate analysis showed that both DOI and Breslow thickness predicted melanoma specific survival (HR 1.12; p = 0.0255 and HR 1.144; p = 0.0006, respectively), although Kaplan Meier curve was only significant for Breslow (χ2 = 5.792; p = 0.0161) and not for DOI (χ2 = 0.2556; p = 0.6132). Sentinel lymph node status and presence or absence of ulceration also predicted specific survival in patients with acral melanoma (χ2 = 6.3514; p = 0.0117 and χ2 = 4.2793; p = 0.0386, respectively). Multivariate analysis, however, demonstrated that Breslow depth was the only independent parameter for predicting acral melanoma specific survival (HR 1.144; p = 0.0006).

CONCLUSION

Even though Breslow thickness remains the main predictor for survival in acral melanoma, it is not a perfect parameter. The introduction of DOI in this context opens new perspectives for predicting acral melanoma outcomes.

High prevalence of dermatophytosis of the feet in acral melanoma of the foot

The clinical characteristics and pathogenesis of acral melanoma of the foot (AMF) have not been sufficiently elucidated. Clinical or subclinical persistent inflammation of the feet is caused by dermatophytosis of the feet (DPF). Persistent inflammation is potentially associated with oncogenesis. Moreover, diabetes has been reported to be associated with the development of dermatophytosis and cancer. The present study aimed to elucidate the clinical association between DPF and AMF, with consideration of diabetes. The medical records of 114 Japanese patients were retrospectively examined and divided into an AMF group (n = 30) and a control group consisting of patients with foot diseases other than melanoma (n = 84). Microscopic DPF screening was performed on all patients who reported symptoms in the foot, with or without AMF. Patients underwent a microscopic test to detect the presence of dermatophytes, and the diagnosis of DPF was made based on a positive result. In the AMF group, 18 (60.0%) and eight (26.7%) patients had DPF and diabetes, respectively. Four patients (13.3%) had both DPF and diabetes. In the control group, 25 (29.8%) and 11 (13.1%) patients had DPF and diabetes, respectively. Five patients (6.0%) had both DPF and diabetes. Univariate analyses showed a significantly higher prevalence of DPF in the AMF group than in the control group (odds ratio, 3.540; p = 0.003, Pearson χ2 test). Furthermore, multivariate analyses of sex, body mass index, DPF, and diabetes revealed DPF as a significant factor associated with AMF (odds ratio, 4.285; p = 0.002, logistic regression analysis). The hyperkeratotic type of DPF was more frequently observed in patients with AMF than in control patients (odds ratio, 11.083; p < 0.001, Pearson χ2 test). In conclusion, the present study found a significantly higher prevalence of DPF, especially its hyperkeratotic type, in patients with AMF. DPF may be associated with AMF pathogenesis.

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition leads to regression of acral melanoma by targeting the tumor microenvironment

Acral melanoma (AM) is an aggressive melanoma variant that arises from palmar, plantar, and nail unit melanocytes. Compared to non-acral cutaneous melanoma (CM), AM is biologically distinct, has an equal incidence across genetic ancestries, typically presents in advanced stage disease, is less responsive to therapy, and has an overall worse prognosis. Independent analysis of published genomic and transcriptomic sequencing identified that receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands and adapter proteins are frequently amplified, translocated, and/or overexpressed in AM. To target these unique genetic changes, a zebrafish acral melanoma model was exposed to a panel of narrow and broad spectrum multi-RTK inhibitors, revealing that dual FGFR/VEGFR inhibitors decrease acral-analogous melanocyte proliferation and migration. The potent pan-FGFR/VEGFR inhibitor, Lenvatinib, uniformly induces tumor regression in AM patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors but only slows tumor growth in CM models. Unlike other multi-RTK inhibitors, Lenvatinib is not directly cytotoxic to dissociated AM PDX tumor cells and instead disrupts tumor architecture and vascular networks. Considering the great difficulty in establishing AM cell culture lines, these findings suggest that AM may be more sensitive to microenvironment perturbations than CM. In conclusion, dual FGFR/VEGFR inhibition may be a viable therapeutic strategy that targets the unique biology of AM.

Integrative molecular and spatial analysis reveals evolutionary dynamics and tumor-immune interplay of in situ and invasive acral melanoma

In acral melanoma (AM), progression from in situ (AMis) to invasive AM (iAM) leads to significantly reduced survival. However, evolutionary dynamics during this process remain elusive. Here, we report integrative molecular and spatial characterization of 147 AMs using genomics, bulk and single-cell transcriptomics, and spatial transcriptomics and proteomics. Vertical invasion from AMis to iAM displays an early and monoclonal seeding pattern. The subsequent regional expansion of iAM exhibits two distinct patterns, clonal expansion and subclonal diversification. Notably, molecular subtyping reveals an aggressive iAM subset featured with subclonal diversification, increased epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and spatial enrichment of APOE+/CD163+ macrophages. In vitro and ex vivo experiments further demonstrate that APOE+CD163+ macrophages promote tumor EMT via IGF1-IGF1R interaction. Adnexal involvement can predict AMis with higher invasive potential whereas APOE and CD163 serve as prognostic biomarkers for iAM. Altogether, our results provide implications for the early detection and treatment of AM.

Baseline Serum neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in acral melanoma compared with nonacral melanoma and its prognostic significance

BACKGROUND

Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), a cutaneous melanoma subtype, exhibits a poorer prognosis than nonacral cutaneous melanoma (NACM). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is emerging as a prognostic indicator across diverse cancers.

OBJECTIVE

We explored the baseline NLR disparities between ALM and NACM, and the NLR's prognostic significance in patients with ALM.

METHODS

We reviewed records of patients with ALM and NACM diagnosed between 1997 and 2022, analyzing medical data.

RESULTS

Among 327 and 159 patients with ALM and NACM, respectively, baseline NLR varied based on distinct clinicopathologic factors between ALM and NACM. In stage 3 to 4 melanomas, the median NLR for ALM (2.18; IQR, 1.70-3.08) significantly surpassed NACM (1.74; IQR, 1.33-2.53) (P = .029). In patients with ALM, high NLR (hazard ratio, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.02-2.66; P = .043) was independently correlated with poor progression-free survival when adjusting for ulceration, Breslow thickness of ≥2 mm, and nodal invasion.

LIMITATIONS

Single-center, retrospective design.

CONCLUSION

Advanced-stage ALM exhibited a significantly higher baseline NLR compared with that of NACM. Evaluating baseline NLR could provide valuable prognostic insights for patients with ALM.

Long-term outcomes after amputation and sentinel node biopsy for subungual melanoma: A single-institution series

BACKGROUND

Subungual melanoma (SUM) is a rare tumor with historically poor outcomes. Thus, the benefit of proximal versus distal amputation in SUM remains unclear.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of our prospectively-maintained institutional melanoma database, including SUM and non-subungual acral melanoma (AM) patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) between 1999 and 2022. All SUMs had distal joint or proximal amputations. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and recurrence free survival (RFS). Kaplan-Meier estimates, and Cox univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Tests were repeated on propensity score matched (PSM) populations in a 2:1 ratio.

RESULTS

123 patients underwent resection with SLNB for SUM (n ​= ​27) and AM (n ​= ​96). Median follow-up was 9.2 years. Unadjusted median OS was 149.1 months for AM and 198.1 months for SUM. In the PSM comparison, median OS and RFS remained comparable between SUM and AM (149.5 months versus 198.1 months; p ​= ​0.612). Sentinel node positivity was associated with significantly worse overall survival outcome (Hazard Ratio 5.49; CI (1.59-18.97), p ​= ​0.007). In the PSM population, male sex was also associated with a significant hazard of death (HR 3.00, CI (1.03-8.71), p ​= ​0.043). Proximal amputations were associated with significantly worse OS (p ​< ​0.002) and RFS (p ​< ​0.01) compared to distal amputations in SUM.

CONCLUSION

SUM was well-treated with distal amputations, and had better OS and RFS compared to SUM treated with proximal amputations. Sentinel lymph node status is an important prognostic factor for SUMs and AMs. SUMs can be treated similarly to AMs with comparably good long-term outcomes.

Acral Lentiginous Melanoma: A Clinicoprognostic Study of 149 Cases at a Single Institution

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to investigate the epidemiological features, clinical characteristics, and pathological characteristics of acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) and identify prognostic factors.

METHODS

A total of 149 patients diagnosed with ALM between August 2008 and December 2019 at the National Cancer Center (NCC) of China were retrospectively analyzed. Follow-up data on patient survival status were collected. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and statistical significance was assessed using the log-rank test. Additionally, a Cox proportional hazards model was constructed to identify prognostic factors.

RESULTS

All patients included in this study were of Chinese ethnicity, with an average age of 52.4 ± 14.8 years (range, 15-80 years) at the time of diagnosis. No gender predilection or genetic susceptibility was observed. The plantar region was the most frequently affected site among primary lesions. Notably, only 17 (11.4%) patients reported a history of trauma. Statistical analysis revealed that a lesion duration of ≤2.5 years, Breslow thickness >4.0 mm, high mitotic rate (>6 mm-2), presence of vascular invasion, and regional lymph node metastasis were identified as independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that a lesion duration of ≤2.5 years, Breslow thickness >4.0 mm, high mitotic rate (>6 mm-2), presence of vascular invasion, and regional lymph node metastasis are significantly associated with a poorer prognosis for patients with ALM.

Surgical resection margin for T3-T4 primary acral melanoma: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

Although the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines include clear recommendations for the appropriate resection margins in non-acral cutaneous melanoma, the required margin for acral melanoma is controversial. In this retrospective study, we aimed to investigate whether narrow-margin excision is warranted for thick acral melanoma. Records from 277 melanoma patients with stage T3-T4 disease who underwent radical surgery in three centers in China from September 2010 to October 2018 were reviewed. Clinicopathologic data, including age, gender, excision margin (1-2 cm versus ≥ 2 cm), Clark level, Breslow thickness, ulceration, N stage and adjuvant therapy, were included for survival analysis. The patients were followed up until death or March 31, 2021. Log-rank and Cox regression analyses were used to identify prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and local and in-transit recurrence-free survival (LITRFS). Among all enrolled patients, 207 (74.7%) had acral melanoma, and 70 (25.3%) had non-acral cutaneous melanoma. No significant difference in baseline characteristics was identified between non-acral and acral melanoma, except for age (p = 0.004), gender (p = 0.009) and ulceration (p = 0.048). In non-acral melanoma, a resection margin of 1-2 cm was a poor independent prognostic factor for OS [p = 0.015; hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI), 0.26 (0.009-0.77)] and LITRFS [p = 0.013; HR (95% CI), 0.19 (0.05-0.71)] but not for DFS [p = 0.143; HR (95% CI), 0.51 (0.21-1.25)]. Forty-three (20.8%) patients in the acral melanoma group had a 1-2-cm resection margin. The resection margin was not correlated with patients' OS (p = 0.196 by log-rank analysis, p = 0.865 by multivariate survival analysis), DFS (p = 0.080 by log-rank analysis, p = 0.758 by multivariate survival analysis) or LITRFS (p = 0.354 by log-rank analysis) in acral melanoma. As recommended in the NCCN guidelines, a resection margin ≥ 2 cm is required for non-acral cutaneous melanoma. Meanwhile, a narrow resection margin (1-2 cm) may be safe for patients with acral melanoma.

Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma, version 3.0

Since the first approval for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma more than a decade ago, immunotherapy has completely transformed the treatment landscape of this chemotherapy-resistant disease. Combination regimens including ICIs directed against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) with anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) agents or, more recently, anti-lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) agents, have gained regulatory approvals for the treatment of metastatic cutaneous melanoma, with long-term follow-up data suggesting the possibility of cure for some patients with advanced disease. In the resectable setting, adjuvant ICIs prolong recurrence-free survival, and neoadjuvant strategies are an active area of investigation. Other immunotherapy strategies, such as oncolytic virotherapy for injectable cutaneous melanoma and bispecific T-cell engager therapy for HLA-A*02:01 genotype-positive uveal melanoma, are also available to patients. Despite the remarkable efficacy of these regimens for many patients with cutaneous melanoma, traditional immunotherapy biomarkers (ie, programmed death-ligand 1 expression, tumor mutational burden, T-cell infiltrate and/or microsatellite stability) have failed to reliably predict response. Furthermore, ICIs are associated with unique toxicity profiles, particularly for the highly active combination of anti-PD-1 plus anti-CTLA-4 agents. The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) convened a panel of experts to develop this clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma, including rare subtypes of the disease (eg, uveal, mucosal), with the goal of improving patient care by providing guidance to the oncology community. Drawing from published data and clinical experience, the Expert Panel developed evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for healthcare professionals using immunotherapy to treat melanoma, with topics including therapy selection in the advanced and perioperative settings, intratumoral immunotherapy, when to use immunotherapy for patients with BRAFV600-mutated disease, management of patients with brain metastases, evaluation of treatment response, special patient populations, patient education, quality of life, and survivorship, among others.

Impact of clinical and histopathological characteristics on the disease-free survival of stage I-II acral melanoma patients

BACKGROUND

Acral melanoma is rare and associated with a worse prognosis compared to cutaneous melanoma in other locations. Despite this, few studies have focused on the prognosis of acral melanoma, particularly in patients with initial clinical stage. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of clinical and histopathological characteristics on the disease-free survival (DFS) of stage I-II patients.

METHODS

We analyzed 154 stage I-II acral melanoma cases, all of whom underwent a review of the histopathological and clinical parameters. Patients were divided into groups based on the presence or absence of disease recurrence within 5 years. We used Cox proportional regression to analyze independent risk factors and computed DFS curves using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Within 5 years, 27.9% of patients experienced disease recurrence, with 90.4% occurring during the first 3 years. Univariate and multivariate analyses did not identify any clinical parameters with a significant influence on DFS. The DFS rate at 5 years was 72.7%. The median duration of disease recurrence after the initial diagnosis was 21 months. However, Breslow thickness, presence of ulceration, >3 mitosis/mm2 , presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), and perineural invasion were significantly associated with a decrease in time to first recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the favorable prognosis of stage I-II acral melanoma compared with advance stage, clinical and histopathological characteristics can impact prognosis. In addition to Breslow thickness and ulceration, attention should be paid to mitotic rate, presence of TIL, and perineural invasion to optimize follow-up of acral melanoma patients diagnosed in the initial clinical stage.

Survival rates for invasive cutaneous malignant melanoma in South Korea in accordance with the Eighth edition AJCC Cancer Staging Manual: A retrospective single center study

Background Cutaneous malignant melanoma is known to have a poorer prognosis in Asian patients as compared to Caucasians. Few studies have analysed the overall survival rate (OS) and melanoma-specific survival rate (MSS) of patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma in South Korea. Aim This study aims to analyse the OS, MSS and prognostic factors of patients with invasive cutaneous malignant melanoma in South Korea. Methods The medical records of patients diagnosed with invasive cutaneous malignant melanoma from July 2006 to June 2016 at Kyungpook National University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. The OS/MSS of these patients were calculated in accordance with the Eighth American Joint Committee on Center staging system and the prognostic factors affecting MSS were analysed. Results A total of 202 patients with a mean age of 61.5 years were included. The 5-year OS/MSS was 64.4%/70.7% in the patients. The 5-year OS/MSS was 94.7%/97.1% for stage I, 67.2%/76.3% for stage II, 54.4%/59.1% for stage III, and 0%/0% for stage IV. On univariate analysis, the age, sex, Breslow thickness, ulceration, microsatellites, satellites, locally recurrent or in-transit metastasis, tumour metastasis in sentinel lymph nodes and clinicopathological stage were all significantly associated with the MSS, but not with acral distribution or BRAF mutation status. However, on multivariate analysis only the Breslow thickness, ulceration and stage IV were significantly associated with the MSS. Limitations This study was conducted retrospectively in a relatively small number of patients at a single tertiary center in South Korea. Conclusions The OS/MSS of patients with invasive cutaneous malignant melanoma in South Korea was lower than those in Caucasians. In addition to the Breslow thickness and ulceration, the impact of tumour location and sentinel nodal metastasis on cutaneous malignant melanoma should be reevaluated to better understand the disease prognosis in these patients.

Deciphering gene contributions and etiologies of somatic mutational signatures of cancer

Somatic mutational signatures (MSs) identified by genome sequencing play important roles in exploring the cause and development of cancer. Thus far, many such signatures have been identified, and some of them do imply causes of cancer. However, a major bottleneck is that we do not know the potential meanings (i.e. carcinogenesis or biological functions) and contributing genes for most of them. Here, we presented a computational framework, Gene Somatic Genome Pattern (GSGP), which can decipher the molecular mechanisms of the MSs. More importantly, it is the first time that the GSGP is able to process MSs from ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing, which greatly extended the applications of both MS analysis and RNA sequencing (RNAseq). As a result, GSGP analyses match consistently with previous reports and identify the etiologies for a number of novel signatures. Notably, we applied GSGP to RNAseq data and revealed an RNA-derived MS involved in deficient deoxyribonucleic acid mismatch repair and microsatellite instability in colorectal cancer. Researchers can perform customized GSGP analysis using the web tools or scripts we provide.

Acral Melanoma Is Infiltrated with cDC1s and Functional Exhausted CD8 T Cells Similar to the Cutaneous Melanoma of Sun-Exposed Skin

Acral melanoma (AM) is the most common melanoma in non-Caucasian populations, yet it remains largely understudied. As AM lacks the UV-radiation mutational signatures that characterize other cutaneous melanomas, it is considered devoid of immunogenicity and is rarely included in clinical trials assessing novel immunotherapeutic regimes aiming to recover the antitumor function of immune cells. We studied a Mexican cohort of melanoma patients from the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) (n = 38) and found an overrepresentation of AM (73.9%). We developed a multiparametric immunofluorescence technique coupled with a machine learning image analysis to evaluate the presence of conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1) and CD8 T cells in the stroma of melanoma, two of the most relevant immune cell types for antitumor responses. We observed that both cell types infiltrate AM at similar and even higher levels than other cutaneous melanomas. Both melanoma types harbored programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1+) CD8 T cells and PD-1 ligand (PD-L1+) cDC1s. Despite this, CD8 T cells appeared to preserve their effector function and expanding capacity as they expressed interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and KI-67. The density of cDC1s and CD8 T cells significantly decreased in advanced stage III and IV melanomas, supporting these cells' capacity to control tumor progression. These data also argue that AM could respond to anti-PD-1-PD-L1 immunotherapy.

Application of fluorescence in situ hybridization in distinguishing acral melanoma in situ from acral junctional melanocytic nevus on the volar skin in Japanese patients

Four-colored fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is an ancillary diagnostic tool for melanoma. However, most studies that have investigated the usefulness of FISH primarily focused on advanced melanomas. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of FISH in distinguishing acral melanoma (AM) in situ from benign acral junctional nevus (AJN), two types of lesions that are difficult to differentiate via traditional clinical means. The authors investigated the usefulness of FISH in 91 acral melanocytic lesions, including 50 lesions with diagnostic discrepancies between dermoscopic and pathologic approaches or difficulty diagnosing between AM in situ and AJN, on the volar skin of Japanese patients. The authors classified the lesions based on the diagnosis of dermatologists and pathologists into four groups: (I) lesions with a unanimous diagnosis by dermatologists and pathologists as AM in situ or AJN (n = 41); (II) lesions with a unanimous diagnosis by dermatologists only as AM in situ or AJN (n = 21); (III) lesions with a unanimous diagnosis by pathologists only as AM in situ or AJN (n = 15); and (IV) all other lesions (n = 14). The dermatologists diagnosed the lesions by clinical and dermoscopic photographs alone, while the pathologists diagnosed the lesions by microscopy of hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides alone. In group I (AM in situ [n = 20] and AJN [n = 21]), four-colored FISH demonstrated 90% sensitivity and 81% specificity in distinguishing AM in situ from AJN. There was a significant correlation between the FISH results and the unanimous diagnoses by pathologists alone (p = 0.03) in group III. However, FISH results were not significantly correlated with the unanimous diagnoses by dermatologists alone (p = 0.33) in group II. In conclusion, the four-colored FISH probe kit was useful in distinguishing between AM in situ and AJN and may be an ancillary method when pathologists who are not experts of dermatopathology diagnose melanocytic lesions.

Updated analysis of nivolumab and ipilimumab combination therapy in Japanese patients with advanced melanoma

The efficacy and safety of nivolumab and ipilimumab (N + I) combination therapy for Japanese patients with advanced unresectable melanoma was re-evaluated in clinical practice. One hundred Japanese patients with advanced melanoma were included. The overall response rate was 24%; complete response (CR), 6%; partial response, 18%. The response rates were 33.3% in the systemic therapy-naïve and 15.4% in the prior-treatment groups, and 16.1% for patients who were treated with first-line anti-programmed death 1 antibody monotherapy followed by second-line N + I therapy after progression of the disease. The response rate for cutaneous melanoma was 32.7%, and 47.8% in the naïve group. Response rates for non-acral, acral, and mucosal melanoma were 34.9%, 25%, and 16.7%, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) for all patients was 3.25 months (6.5 and 2.5 months in the naïve and prior-treatment groups, respectively). Median overall survival (OS) was 14.5 months (25.25 and 7.5 months in the naïve and prior-treatment groups, respectively). There were no significant differences in PFS or OS for patients with non-acral, acral, or mucosal melanoma. The 3-year PFS and OS were both 100% in patients who achieved CR with combination therapy. Adverse events occurred in 89% and were grade three or higher in 56% of cases. Although direct comparisons cannot be made due to different patient backgrounds, N + I combination therapy in Japanese patients in clinical practice tended to be inferior when compared to global study and non-Asian patients in clinical practice. The highest response rate was in the cutaneous melanoma therapy-naïve group. The best tumor response was associated with survival outcome, and the PFS and OS were good in cases where CR was obtained. The proportion of grade three and four adverse events was as high as that in the global study.

Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in significantly thick acral lentiginous melanoma in Taiwan

This retrospective cohort study enrolled 385 patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma from 1980 to 2021 in National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between thickness of primary melanoma lesions and disease outcome of melanoma patients, in particular, those diagnosed with acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM). The association between important clinicopathological characteristics other than tumor thickness and disease outcome was also analyzed. Survival analyses with the Kaplan-Meier method were utilized to investigate the prognoses of patients with different lesion thickness. The male-to-female ratio was 1.12:1. The median age at diagnosis was 63 years old (mean: 62.2 years). There were 283 cases (73.5%) of acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) with a male-to-female ratio of 1.04:1. Between patients with primary ALM lesions 4.1 millimeters (mm) to 8.0 mm thick and those with lesions over 8.0 mm thick, significant differences in prognostic outcomes including incidence of second recurrences within 1 year (raw p = 0.003, Bonferroni corrected p = 0.009) and distant metastases within 1 year (raw p = 0.003, Bonferroni corrected p = 0.008), were observed. Significantly worse 1-year (raw p = 0.01, Bonferroni corrected p=0.03) and 2-year survival (raw p = 0.006, Bonferroni corrected p = 0.02) were found in ALM patients with lesions of over 8 mm thick than those with lesions 4.1 mm to 8.0 mm at diagnosis. Vigilant short-term follow-up is warranted in ALM patients with lesions of over 8.0 mm thick at diagnosis due to higher risks of adverse outcome.

Digital melanoma in Caucasians: a descriptive and survival study according to sublocation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Digital melanoma is an uncommon form of acral melanoma that is anatomically restricted to the finger. The aim of this study is to provide specific epidemiological and clinical information about this subtype of melanoma, as well as to identify differences in recurrence and survival depending on the anatomical sublocation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We describe a group of 45 Caucasian patients with digital melanoma divided into three groups: nail unit melanoma (group A), finger skin melanoma (group B), and those melanomas that involve both nail and adjacent skin (group C).

RESULTS

The mean tumor thickness was 4.66 mm, and the most common histological subtype is acral lentiginous melanoma. Group C was more frequent in older men and was thicker and more frequently ulcerated (P < 0.05). In addition, patients in group C developed distant metastases more frequently and had a significantly lower median disease-free survival (26.60 months) compared with group A (69.47 months) and group B (89.81 months) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

According to our results, digital melanoma limited to nail apparatus or finger skin was associated with a better prognosis, while those affecting both nail apparatus and skin showed lower melanoma-specific survival.

The pharmacotherapeutic management of nail unit and acral melanomas

INTRODUCTION

Acral and nail unit melanomas are rare subtypes of melanoma, which have poor prognoses. Current guidelines for optimal treatment are lacking. Recent clinical trials have evaluated new pharmacotherapeutic agents for melanoma treatment, with dramatically improved survival rates; however, studies on acral and nail unit melanomas are limited in comparison to trials on cutaneous melanoma.

AREAS COVERED

This is a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the available treatment options for acral and nail unit melanomas, with consideration of safety and tolerability.

EXPERT OPINION

Programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitors are more efficacious than cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 blockers in acral and nail unit melanomas, although both are well-tolerated. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors have good clinical activity, however, data on safety is relatively limited. There is minimal data on high dose interferon α-2b and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors, and efficacy and safety must be evaluated in future trials before they can be recommended for use in this patient population. Prospective clinical trials on acral and nail unit melanomas are lacking, and must be performed in large patient populations, with international collaboration likely necessary in order to enroll adequate participants.

Baseline and post-treatment biomarkers of resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy in acral and mucosal melanoma: an observational study

Background

Immunotherapies targeting programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and its ligands have improved clinical outcomes for advanced melanoma. However, many tumors exhibit primary resistance or acquire secondary resistance after an initial positive response. The mechanisms of resistance are not well understood, and no validated predictive biomarkers are available. This exploratory study aimed to characterize baseline differences and molecular changes arising during treatment in acral and mucosal melanomas that exhibited primary or secondary resistance to anti-PD-1 monotherapy.

Methods

This was an observational retrospective study of 124 patients who had been treated for metastatic acral or mucosal melanoma with anti-PD-1 monotherapy. Tumor samples were collected at baseline (all patients) and post-treatment (resistant tumors only) and were assayed by immunohistochemistry, whole-exome sequencing, and RNA sequencing.

Results

At baseline, more non-progressor than resistant tumors exhibited expression of PD-L1, immune cell infiltration, and high tumor mutational burden (TMB); baseline PD-L1 expression was also more common in secondary-resistant than in primary-resistant tumors as well as in late versus early secondary-resistant tumors. Non-progressor tumors also had higher median baseline expression of an 18-gene T cell-inflamed gene expression profile (Tcell_infGEP). Among resistant tumors, the proportion of PD-L1-positive melanomas and the expression of the Tcell_infGEP mRNA signature increased during treatment, while the expression of mRNA signatures related to WNT and INFA1 signaling decreased. There was evidence for greater changes from baseline in secondary-resistant versus primary-resistant tumors for some markers, including expression of RAS-related and WNT-related mRNA signatures and density of CD11c⁺ and FOXP3⁺ T cells. Greater changes in CD11c⁺ cell density were observed in early compared with late secondary-resistant tumors.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that Tcell_infGEP and PD-L1 expression, TMB, immune cell infiltration, and RAS and WNT signaling warrant further investigation as potential mechanisms and/or biomarkers of anti-PD-1 therapy resistance in acral and mucosal melanomas. Confirmation of these findings in larger populations is needed.

Cross-sectional study of acral melanoma awareness in a group of South African final phase medical students

BACKGROUND

Acral melanoma refers to melanoma arising on the palms, soles and nail unit, which are sun-protected areas and ultraviolet exposure is not a risk factor. Acral melanoma is associated with a poorer prognosis than other melanoma subtypes most likely due to the high rates of delayed diagnosis. Acral melanoma affects all skin types equally. There is a misconception that people with more pigmented skin types (Fitzpatrick 4-6) do not develop melanoma, due to the protective effect of melanin.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to determine acral melanoma knowledge and awareness of a group of South African, final phase medical students.

METHODS

This was a quantitative and cross-sectional study. A questionnaire consisting of 20 clinical images of skin lesions requiring a diagnosis and management plan was distributed. Responses to six images of melanomas were analysed. Further questions to measure acral melanoma knowledge and related issues were included in the study. A biostatistician appropriately managed statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Hundred and one final phase medical students' answers were gathered and analysed. Only 7.9% of the participants diagnosed all six melanomas correctly; 61.4% correctly diagnosed ≥50% of the melanomas. While 77.2% of the participants identified all non-acral cutaneous melanoma correctly, only 8.9% identified all acral melanomas. However, of all participants making the correct diagnosis, >90% selected the appropriate management plan (urgent referral).

LIMITATIONS

This study examined a small sample of trainee healthcare workers. The results cannot be assumed to apply to all South African healthcare workers. Responses given in a questionnaire may not reflect actual behaviour. The dermatology division in question has made acral melanoma a research priority, thus acral melanoma knowledge in this group may in fact be better than in other institutions.

CONCLUSION

The present study demonstrates that groups of imminent doctors have low rates of recognition of melanoma, particularly acral melanoma. This is consistent with high levels of primary misdiagnosis of acral melanoma reported in the literature. Fortunately, these participants managed the melanomas they diagnosed appropriately in >90% of cases. This confirms that the deficit in the participant group is awareness and knowledge. Those aware of the disease immediately acknowledged the need for urgent referral.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of genomic alterations in acral melanoma

Acral melanoma (AM) tumors arise on the palms, soles, fingers, toes, and nailbeds. A comprehensive systematic meta-analysis of AM genomic aberrations has not been conducted to date. A literature review was carried out to identify studies sequencing AM. Whole-genome/exome data from 181 samples were identified. Targeted panel sequencing data from MSK-IMPACT were included as a validation cohort (n = 92), and studies using targeted hot spot sequencing were also collated for BRAF (n = 26 studies), NRAS (n = 21), and KIT (n = 32). Statistical analysis indicated BRAF, NRAS, PTEN, TYRP1, and KIT as significantly mutated genes. Frequent copy-number aberrations were also found for important cancer genes, such as CDKN2A, KIT, MDM2, CCND1, CDK4, and PAK1, among others. Mapping genomic alterations within the context of the hallmarks of cancer identified four components frequently altered, including (i) sustained proliferative signaling and (ii) evading growth suppression, (iii) genome instability and mutation, and (iv) enabling replicative immortality. This analysis provides the largest analysis of genomic aberrations in AM in the literature to date and highlights pathways that may be therapeutically targetable.

Response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in acral melanoma: A nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Recent reports suggest the limited efficacy of immune checkpoints inhibitors in advanced acral melanoma (AM). This study aims to investigate the clinical outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with stage III and IV AM and compare them to cutaneous melanoma (CM).

METHODS

We included patients with advanced AM and CM treated with first-line anti-programmed cell death (PD)-1 monotherapy or ipilimumab-nivolumab registered in the prospective nationwide Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry. Objective response rates, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the prognostic factors with PFS and OS.

RESULTS

In total, 2058 patients (88 AM and 1970 CM) with advanced melanoma were included. First-line objective response rates were 34% for AM versus 54% for CM in the advanced anti-PD-1 cohort and 33% for AM versus 53% for CM in the advanced ipilimumab-nivolumab cohort. The Median PFS was significantly shorter for anti-PD-1 treated AM patients (3.1 months; 95%CI: 2.8-5.6) than patients with CM (10.1 months; 95%CI: 8.5-12.2) (P < 0.001). In patients with advanced melanoma, AM was significantly associated with a higher risk of progression (HRadj 1.63; 95%CI: 1.26-2.11; P < 0.001) and death (HRadj 1.54; 95%CI: 1.15-2.06; P = 0.004) than CM.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows lower effectiveness of anti-PD -1 monotherapy and ipilimumab-nivolumab in AM, with lower response rates, PFS and OS than CM. This group of patients should be prioritised in the development of alternative treatment strategies.

[Plantar melanoma: A wolf in sheep's clothing]

BACKGROUND AND FINDINGS

 Amelanotic melanoma (AM) is a subtype of melanoma characterized by a diminished or lacking melanin synthesis. AM, especially ulcerated variants of the plantar region (AMP), are often clinically misdiagnosed, leading to a delay in treatment initiation.

THERAPY AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT

 We present a case series of 4 AMP and give a detailed overview about clinical features and the subsequent medical history of this severe disease.

CONCLUSIONS

 AMP shows a variety of clinical presentations and particularly elderly patients with many accompanying medical conditions are in danger of incorrect clinical diagnoses. Therefore, we recommend to biopsy any amelanotic plantar ulcer or tumor that does not respond to treatment within 6 weeks to rule out AM.

Survival differences in acral lentiginous melanoma according to socioeconomic status and race

BACKGROUND

Relationships of socioeconomic status (SES) and race to survival in acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) are poorly characterized.

OBJECTIVE

To compare disease-specific survival in ALM across SES and race.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, 2000 to 2016.

RESULTS

We identified 2245 patients with a first ALM diagnosis. Five-year disease-specific survival was 77.8% (95% CI, 75.9%-79.9%). After adjustment, patients in the lowest and second-to-lowest SES quintile had 1.33 (95% CI, 0.90-1.96) and 1.42 (95% CI, 1.03-1.97) times the risk of death, respectively, compared to highest quintile patients. Hispanic White and Black patients had 1.48 (95% CI, 1.10-1.99) and 1.25 (95% CI, 0.88-1.79) times the risk of death, respectively, compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Hazard ratios for ALM-specific death decreased in Hispanic White and Black patients after adjusting for SES and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage at diagnosis.

LIMITATIONS

Treatments could not be evaluated. SES was measured at the level of the census tract and does not account for individual level factors.

CONCLUSION

Differences exist in ALM survival according to socioeconomic status and race. Differences in SES and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage at diagnosis contribute to survival disparities for Hispanic White and Black patients. Understanding factors driving survival disparities related to SES and race may improve ALM outcomes.

Different progression pattern between acral and nonacral melanoma: A retrospective, comparative, clinicoprognostic study of 492 cases of primary cutaneous melanoma according to tumor site

BACKGROUND

There are limited data regarding the difference in progression pattern between acral melanoma and nonacral melanoma.

AIMS

The objectives of this study were to compare the progression pattern between acral and nonacral melanoma and evaluate its impact on clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Clinical and histopathological features, survival outcomes and prognostic factors of 492 patients with acral melanoma or nonacral melanoma were retrospectively evaluated using the Asan Medical Center database.

RESULTS

The male-to-female ratio and the mean age was 1:0.92 and 60.2 years for acral melanoma (n = 249), and 1:0.85 and 58.4 years for nonacral melanoma (n = 243), respectively. The demographic difference was not significant. Although prediagnosis duration was longer and the advanced stage was more common in acral melanoma than that in nonacral melanoma, the vertical growth phase was more common in nonacral melanoma than that in acral melanoma, whereas, the horizontal diameter is longer in acral melanoma than that in nonacral melanoma. Dissemination to lymph nodes was more common in acral melanoma than that in nonacral melanoma. Lymph node involvement was associated with deeper Breslow thickness in nonacral melanoma but not in acral melanoma. The degree of correlation of prediagnosis duration with horizontal diameter was remarkable in acral melanoma, but with Breslow thickness in nonacral melanoma. Overall survival was worse in acral melanoma than that in nonacral melanoma. The prognostic value of Breslow thickness was more remarkable in nonacral melanoma than that in acral melanoma.

LIMITATIONS

This study is a retrospective, single-center design.

CONCLUSION

Acral melanoma has a longer radial growth phase compared with nonacral melanoma. However, acral melanoma is commonly associated with lymph node dissemination which contributed to worse survival in acral melanoma than nonacral melanoma.

Acral Lentiginous Melanoma: A United States Multi-Center Substage Survival Analysis

Background

Acral lentiginous melanoma is associated with worse survival than other subtypes of melanoma. Understanding prognostic factors for survival and recurrence can help better inform follow-up care.

Objectives

To analyze the clinicopathologic features, melanoma-specific survival, and recurrence-free survival by substage in a large, multi-institutional cohort of primary acral lentiginous melanoma patients.

Methods

Retrospective review of the United States Melanoma Consortium database, a multi-center prospectively collected database of acral lentiginous melanoma patients treated between January 2000 and December 2017.

Results

Of the 433 primary acral lentiginous melanoma patients identified (median [range] age: 66 [8–97] years; 53% female, 83% white), 66% presented with stage 0–2 disease and the median time of follow-up for the 392 patients included in the survival analysis was 32.5 months (range: 0–259). The 5-year melanoma-specific survivals by stage were 0 = 100%, I = 93.8%, II = 76.2%, III = 63.4%, IIIA = 80.8%, and IV = 0%. Thicker Breslow depth ((HR) = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.05–1.21; P < .001)) and positive nodal status ((HR) = 1.79; 95% CI = 1.00–3.22; P = .050)) were independent prognostic factors for melanoma-specific survival. Breslow depth ((HR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.07–1.20; P < .001), and positive nodal status (HR = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.38–3.80; P = .001) were also prognostic factors for recurrence-free survival.

Conclusion

In this cohort of patients, acral lentiginous melanoma was associated with poor outcomes even in early stage disease, consistent with prior reports. Stage IIB and IIC disease were associated with particularly low melanoma-specific and recurrence-free survival. This suggests that studies investigating adjuvant therapies in stage II patients may be especially valuable in acral lentiginous melanoma patients.

More than just acral melanoma: the controversies of defining the disease

Acral melanoma (AM) is a malignant cutaneous melanocytic tumour specifically located on the palms, soles, and nail apparatus, which are areas of glabrous (hairless) skin. Acral lentiginous melanoma, a subtype of AM, represents a histopathological subtype diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma with unique morphological and structural features. Despite clear definitions, the misuse of these terms and the inconsistency in reporting the histopathological features of AM cases have become a major obstacle to the study of the disease. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology, histopathological features, prognosis, and genetic profile of AM, highlighting the differences observed when histopathological subtypes are considered. The increasing global effort to characterise AM cases from ethnically diverse populations would benefit greatly from a more consistent classification of the disease.

Acral lentiginous melanoma-Population, treatment, and survival using the NCDB from 2004 to 2015

Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is a rare histological subtype of cutaneous malignant melanoma that typically presents on the palms and soles. To characterize the demographic and treatment characteristics of ALM, we used the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to describe a large multi-institutional cohort of ALM patients, consisting of 4,796 ALM patients from 2004 to 2015. ALM was more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage overall compared with non-ALM cutaneous melanomas, and more likely to be thicker, ulcerated, lymph node positive, and have lymphovascular invasion and positive margins. When stratified by stage, ALM had worse survival compared with non-ALM patients, most notably in stage III patients with 5-year survival of 47.5% versus 56.7%, respectively (p < .001). In ALM patients, older age, male sex, higher comorbidity burden, increased tumor thickness and ulceration, positive lymph nodes, and positive metastasis were independently associated with lower 5-year survival. Multimodality therapy, defined as surgery in addition to systemic therapy and/or radiation therapy, was associated with higher survival in stage III patients but not in other stages. These results call for further investigation into possible treatment intensification in the ALM population in the future.

Subungual Melanoma: A Single Institution Experience

Despite the changing paradigms of melanoma treatment in recent years, there remains a relative paucity of data regarding subungual melanoma in the literature. From 2002–2018, 25 patients with subungual melanoma were surgically treated at our facility. A retrospective chart review was conducted to collect relevant demographic, clinical, pathologic, and outcomes data. The median age at diagnosis was 69 years. Most patients (60%) were male, and the melanoma lesion was most often located on the foot (68%). Acral-lentiginous was the most common histologic subtype (59%), and the median Breslow thickness was 3.4 mm. Fifteen patients (63%) underwent a sentinel lymph node biopsy as part of their surgical resection, and four of these patients (27%) had metastatic disease in the lymph nodes. In total, 10 patients underwent lymph node dissection of the involved basin. The median follow up was 21 months in this patient population. Age, gender, tumor location, ulceration, and lesion histology were not significantly associated with recurrence free survival (RFS). Increasing Breslow thickness was found to be significantly associated with shorter RFS (HR: 1.07, CI: 1.03–1.55). In total, 13 patients developed a disease recurrence, and RFS rates were 66% at 1 year and 40% at 3 years. Additionally, 91 and 37% of patients were alive at one year and three years, respectively. Subungual melanomas are rare lesions that often have a more advanced stage at diagnosis, which contributes to the poor prognosis of these cutaneous malignancies.

Overall Survival of Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic BRAF V600-Mutant Acral/Cutaneous Melanoma Administered Dabrafenib Plus Trametinib: Long-Term Follow-Up of a Multicenter, Single-Arm Phase IIa Trial

Objectives

To examine the long-term survival outcome of dabrafenib in combination with trametinib in Chinese patients with unresectable or metastatic acral/cutaneous melanoma with BRAF-V600 mutation and to explore potential predictors of effectiveness.

Methods

This was a long-term follow-up of Chinese patients with unresectable or metastatic BRAF V600-mutant acral/cutaneous melanoma administered dabrafenib (150 mg twice daily) plus trametinib (2 mg once daily) in an open-label, multicenter, single-arm, phase IIa study (NCT02083354). Efficacy endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). The impacts of baseline characteristics on PFS and OS were analyzed.

Results

A total of sixty patients were included. The median age was 48 years, and 24 patients (40.0%) were male. Totally 12 individuals (20.0%) had acral melanoma, and 45 (75.0%) had failed previous systemic therapy. Up to July 2020, the median duration of follow-up was 37.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 29.1-44.9) months. The updated ORR was 71.7% (95%CI 60.3%-83.1%). The 3-year OS rate was 28.8% (95%CI 19.1-43.6%) in the overall population, and 35.7% (95%CI 15.5–82.4%) in acral melanoma patients. The median DOR was 7.5 months (95%CI 4.5 to 10.5). Baseline normal lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), metastatic organ sites<3 and complete response to combination therapy with dabrafenib plus trametinib were associated with improved PFS and OS.

Conclusion

Dabrafenib combined with trametinib confer long-term survival in Chinese patients with BRAF V600-mutant, unresectable or metastatic acral/cutaneous melanoma.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02083354, identifier NCT02083354.

Melanoma of the Hands and Feet (With Reconstruction)

Melanomas only account for 4% of all dermatologic cancers yet are responsible for 80% of deaths. Notably, melanomas of the hand and foot have a worse prognosis when compared with melanomas of other anatomic regions. Likely this is due to intrinsic biologic characteristics, delayed diagnosis, difficult surgical excision due to delicate anatomy, and lack of definitive diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines. The most common locations of melanoma of the hand, in order of decreasing frequency, are subungual area, dorsal surface, and palmar surface. The most common locations of melanoma of the foot are the plantar surface, dorsal surface, and subungual area, in decreasing frequency. Diagnosis of melanoma of the hand and foot can be difficult because the traditional "ABCDE" (asymmetric shape, border, color, diameter, evolution) rules do not apply. Newer acronyms have been proposed in literature including "CUBED" (colored, uncertain, bleeding, enlarged, delayed) and "ABC rule for Subungual Melanoma." Once diagnosed, treatment is primarily surgical excision and reconstruction. The goal for the surgeon is to maintain the function and anatomy of the hand or foot.

When acral malignant melanoma facades as diabetic foot!

An 85-year-old Indian man presented with non-healing foot ulcer over the left heel. There was initial response to wound size with standard treatment including offloading, debridement and antibiotic therapy. However, subsequently, there was no progress noted. Incidentally, two small black spots in the wound bed raised the suspicion of melanoma. Incisional biopsy confirmed acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM). The final diagnosis was ALM coexisting with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). The wound was treated by surgical resection and flap reconstruction that resulted in complete healing. Fourteen months after the initial intervention, the patient developed a new lump and ulceration around the previous wound bed. This turned out to be recurrent disease with distant metastasis. The patient died eventually with palliative support. Through this case, we would like to highlight the importance of early biopsy and intervention in DFU especially for those wounds with atypical presentation or refractory to standard treatment.

CCND1 copy number increase and cyclin D1 expression in acral melanoma: a comparative study of fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in a Chinese cohort

BACKGROUND

CCND1 copy number increase is characteristic of acral melanoma and is useful in distinguishing benign and malignant acral melanocytic lesions. Increase of the gene copy number may result in protein overexpression. This raises the possibility that detection of high expression of cyclin D1 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) may be used as a surrogate for direct evaluation of increase in the CCND1 gene copy number.

METHODS

We examined increases in CCND1 copy number with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and examined cyclin D1 protein expression with IHC in 61 acral melanomas.

RESULTS

Using FISH, 29 acral melanomas (29/61, 47.5%) showed increase in the CCND1 copy number, including 8 (8/61, 13.1%) which showed low-level increase in the CCND1 copy number and 21 (21/61, 34.4%) with high-level increase in the CCND1 copy number. By analysis of IHC, the median IHC score was 15% (range: 1-80%) in acral melanomas with no CCND1 copy number alteration. In acral melanomas with low-level CCND1 copy number increase, the median IHC score was 25% (range: 3-90%). In acral melanomas with high-level CCND1 copy number increase, the median IHC score was 60% (range: 1-95%). Comparing FISH and IHC, cyclin D1 protein expression level has no corelation with the CCND1 copy number in acral melanomas which have no CCND1 copy number alteration and low-level CCND1 copy number increase (P = 0.108). Cyclin D1 protein expression level correlated positively with CCND1 copy number in acral melanomas with high-level CCND1 copy number increase (P = 0.038). The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of using cyclin D1 IHC to predict CCND1 FISH result was 72.4, 62.5 and 63.6%. Increase in CCND1 copy number was associated with Breslow thickness in invasive acral melanoma.

CONCLUSION

High-level increase in the CCND1 copy number can induce high cyclin D1 protein expression in acral melanomas. However low-level increase and normal CCND1 copy number have no obvious correlation with protein expression. Cyclin D1 IHC cannot serve as a surrogate for CCND1 FISH in acral melanomas.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of acral lentiginous melanoma: a single-center series of 211 cases in China

BACKGROUND

Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is common in China with poor prognosis. However, there are only a few studies of ALM in the Asian population. We aimed to summarize and analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment strategy, treatment effect, and prognostic factors of ALM in a Chinese population.

METHODS

We included a total of 249 ALM patients (211 with follow-up data) from a single institution. Demographic, laboratory data, treatment strategy, and prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTS

The ratio of male and female was 1.3 ∶ 1.0. The median age was 58 years old. The majority of patients (70.3%) had lesions on the sole. Trauma history and irritation were associated with lesion size increase in some patients. The prognosis of patients in stage II-III undergoing standard operation was significantly better compared with those without surgical treatment. Patients who did not receive postoperative adjuvant treatment had shorter time to distant metastasis. In multivariable analysis, distant metastasis, duration of disease, LDH level, and Ki67 index were independently associated with survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Prognosis for ALM patients was poor in our study. Distant metastasis, duration of disease, LDH level, and Ki67 index were independently associated with prognosis.

Immunotherapy in Acral and Mucosal Melanoma: Current Status and Future Directions

Acral and mucosal melanomas are extremely rare in Caucasians; however, they are the predominant melanoma subtypes in Asians and other non-Caucasian populations. Acral and mucosal melanomas share many clinicopathological features, including aggressive phenotypes, similar genetic landscapes, and grim prognoses. In spite of advances in melanoma management, patients with acral and mucosal melanomas show limited benefit from current therapies. The rarity of these subtypes of melanoma is a significant factor contributing to the poor understanding of these pathological subtypes and the lack of effective interventions. Furthermore, the mechanisms contributing to disparities between different types of melanoma remain largely unclear. Herein, we comprehensively review current knowledge on the clinicopathological characteristics and mutational landscapes of acral and mucosal melanomas, as well as providing an overview of current therapies for patients with these aggressive melanoma subtypes, focusing on available immunotherapeutic interventions. We also discuss pathological differences between different melanoma subtypes and summarize current knowledge on melanoma disparities between Asians and Caucasians. Finally, we discuss emerging immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of acral and mucosal melanomas, focusing on combination therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Unraveling the unique features of acral and mucosal melanomas is key for their early diagnosis and for the development of effective therapies.

Slow Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Acral Melanoma Treatment in Korean Patients

BACKGROUND

Obtaining conventional wide surgical margins is challenging in melanomas occurring at anatomically complex sites (e.g., hands and feet).

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the potential benefits of slow Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) for acral melanomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single-center retrospective study investigated 210 patients who underwent slow MMS (n = 66) or wide local excision (WLE, n = 144) for melanomas during 2005 to 2015. Slow MMS was used for melanomas in anatomically complex locations and for high-risk lesions.

RESULTS

Acral melanoma (166/210) was the most common lesion observed in patients, in addition to head and neck (21/210) and trunk (23/210) melanomas. Slow MMS was more commonly performed for acral, and head and neck melanomas (32.5% and 52.4%, respectively) than for trunk melanomas (4.3%, p = .002). Local recurrence of acral melanomas occurred in 3.7% of patients after slow MMS and in 10.7% of patients after WLE. Multivariate analysis showed comparable prognostic outcomes between slow MMS and WLE used for acral melanomas. Compared with WLE, slow MMS resulted in a smaller postoperative defect after acral lesion excision (p < .001).

CONCLUSION

Slow MMS is an effective alternative to WLE for acral melanomas in anatomically complex sites, as evidenced by superior outcomes and maximum tissue conservation.

Caucasians with acral lentiginous melanoma have the same outcome as patients with stage- and limb-matched superficial spreading melanoma

PURPOSE

Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), a relatively rare subtype of cutaneous melanoma, has been reported to have a worse prognosis than other melanomas. We aimed to assess clinical findings in Caucasian ALM patients and compare the data with a matched cohort of superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) patients.

METHODS

We studied 63 patients with ALM and 63 randomly stage- and limb-matched patients with SSM (non-ALM). In both cohorts, guideline-adjusted diagnosis, treatment and follow-up were performed.

RESULTS

We did not observe differences in prognostic factors (e.g., tumor thickness, ulceration) between the two cohorts. Both in ALM and non-ALM patients positive sentinel lymph node was a significant independent predictor for disease relapse and melanoma-specific death. However, disease relapse and melanoma-specific death rates did not significantly differ between ALM and non-ALM patients. An overall 5-year melanoma-specific survival of 82.5% and 81% was observed in ALM and non-ALM patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data confirm that patients with ALM have no worse outcome than non-ALM patients when correcting for significant prognostic factors. Hence, the reportedly high rates of fatal ALM cases should not be ascribed to pathobiological differences between ALM and non-ALM but are most likely are a consequence of a delay in diagnosis and thus advanced stage of ALM.

The Molecular Landscape of Primary Acral Melanoma: A Multicenter Study of the Italian Melanoma Intergroup (IMI)

Acral melanoma (AM) is a rare and aggressive subtype of melanoma affecting the palms, soles, and nail apparatus with similar incidence among different ethnicities. AM is unrelated to ultraviolet radiation and has a low mutation burden but frequent chromosomal rearrangements and gene amplifications. Next generation sequencing of 33 genes and somatic copy number variation (CNV) analysis with genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism arrays were performed in order to molecularly characterize 48 primary AMs of Italian patients in association with clinicopathological and prognostic features. BRAF was the most commonly mutated gene, followed by NRAS and TP53, whereas TERT promoter, KIT, and ARID1A were less frequently mutated. Gains and losses were recurrently found in the 1q, 6p, 7, 8q, 20 and 22 chromosomes involving PREX2, RAC1, KMT2C, BRAF, CCND1, TERT, and AKT3 genes, and in the 6q, 9, 10, 11q and 16q chromosomes including CDKN2A, PTEN, and ADAMTS18 genes, respectively. This study confirmed the variety of gene mutations and the high load of CNV in primary AM. Some genomic alterations were associated with histologic prognostic features. BRAF mutations, found with a higher rate than previously reported, correlated with a low Breslow thickness, low mitotic count, low CNV of the AMs, and with early-stage of disease.