The Proportion Cured of Patients with Resected Stage II-III Cutaneous Melanoma in Sweden

Loss in life expectancy in patients with stage II-III cutaneous melanoma in Sweden: A population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Survival in cutaneous melanoma (CM) is heterogeneous. Loss in life expectancy (LLE) measures impact of CM on remaining lifespan compared to general population.

OBJECTIVES

Investigating LLE in operated stage II-III CM patients.

METHODS

Data from 8061 patients (aged 40-80 years) with stage II-III CM in Sweden, diagnosed between 2005 and 2018, were analyzed (Swedish Melanoma Registry). A flexible parametric survival model estimated life expectancy and LLE.

RESULTS

Based on 2018 diagnoses, stage II and III CM patients lost 2209 and 1902 life years, respectively. LLE was higher in stage III: 5.2 versus 10.9 years (stage II vs III 60-year-old females). Younger patients had higher LLE: 10.7 versus 3.9 years (stage II CM in 40 vs 70-year-old males). In stage II, females had lower LLE than males; 50-year-old females and males stage II CM had LLE equal to 7.3 and 8.3 years, respectively. LLE increased with higher substages, stage IIB resembling IIIB and IIC resembling IIIC-D.

LIMITATIONS

Extrapolation was used to estimate LLE. Varying stage group sizes require caution.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results are both clinically relevant and easy-to-interpret measures of the impact of CM on survival, but the results also summarize the prognosis over the lifetime of a CM patient.

The Level of Agreement between Self-Assessments and Examiner Assessments of Melanocytic Nevus Counts: Findings from an Evaluation of 4548 Double Assessments

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is a candidate for screening programs because its prognosis is excellent when diagnosed at an early disease stage. Targeted screening of those at high risk for developing CM, a cost-effective alternative to population-wide screening, requires valid procedures to identify the high-risk group. Self-assessment of the number of nevi has been suggested as a component of such procedures, but its validity has not yet been established. We analyzed the level of agreement between self-assessments and examiner assessments of the number of melanocytic nevi in the area between the wrist and the shoulder of both arms based on 4548 study subjects in whom mutually blinded double counting of nevi was performed. Nevus counting followed the IARC protocol. Study subjects received written instructions, photographs, a mirror, and a "nevometer" to support self-assessment of nevi larger than 2 mm. Nevus counts were categorized based on the quintiles of the distribution into five levels, defining a nevus score. Cohen's weighted kappa coefficient (κ) was estimated to measure the level of agreement. In the total sample, the agreement between self-assessments and examiner assessments was moderate (weighted κ = 0.596). Self-assessed nevus counts were higher than those determined by trained examiners (mean difference: 3.33 nevi). The level of agreement was independent of sociodemographic and cutaneous factors; however, participants' eye color had a significant impact on the level of agreement. Our findings show that even with comprehensive guidance, only a moderate level of agreement between self-assessed and examiner-assessed nevus counts can be achieved. Self-assessed nevus information does not appear to be reliable enough to be used in individual risk assessment to target screening activities.

Real-world clinical outcomes of patients with stage IIB or IIC cutaneous melanoma treated at US community oncology clinics

Aim: To describe clinical outcomes after complete surgical resection of stage IIB and IIC melanoma. Methods: Adult patients (n = 567) with stage IIB or IIC cutaneous melanoma initially diagnosed and completely resected from 2008-2017 were identified using data from a US community-based oncology network. Results: Median patient follow-up was 38.8 months from melanoma resection to death, last visit or data cut-off (31 December 2020). For stage IIB (n = 375; 66%), Kaplan-Meier median real-world recurrence-free survival (rwRFS) was 58.6 months (95% CI, 48.6-69.5). For stage IIC (n = 192; 34%), median rwRFS was 29.9 months (24.9-45.5). Overall, 44% of patients had melanoma recurrence or died; 30% developed distant metastases. Conclusion: Melanoma recurrence was common, highlighting the need for effective adjuvant therapy for stage IIB and IIC melanoma.