Descriptive Epidemiology of Melanoma Diagnosed between 2010 and 2014 in a Colombian Cancer Registry and a Call for Improving Available Data on Melanoma in Latin America

Abstract

We aimed to improve the available information on morphology and stage for cutaneous melanoma in the population-based cancer registry of the Bucaramanga Metropolitan Area in Colombia. The incidence and survival rates and the distribution of melanoma patients by age, gender, anatomical subsite, and histological subtype were calculated. All 113 melanoma patients (median age 61) were followed up (median time 7.4 years). This exercise (filling in missing information in the registry by manual search of patient clinical record and other available information) yielded more identified invasive melanomas and cases with complete information on anatomical localization and stage. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were 1.86 and 1.08, being slightly higher for males. Most melanomas were localized on the lower limbs, followed by the trunk. For 35% of all melanomas, the morphological subtype remained unknown. Most of the remaining melanomas were nodular and acral lentiginous melanomas. Overall global and relative 5-year survival was 61.6% and 71.3%, respectively, with poorer survival for males than females. Melanomas on the head and neck and unspecified anatomical sites had the worst survival. Patients without stage information in their medical files had excellent survival, unlike patients for whom medical files were no longer available. This study shows the possibility of improving data availability and the importance of good quality population-based data.

Experimentally validated oxidative stress -associated prognostic signatures describe the immune landscape and predict the drug response and prognosis of SKCM

“…They discovered that melanomas at different anatomical locations possess distinct risk factors ( 35 ). Epidemiological studies have shown that most melanomas are located on the lower limbs, followed by the trunk, with melanomas of the head and neck and those with unspecified anatomical locations having the poorest survival rates ( 36 ). Trunk SKCMs tend to have less sun exposure compared to facial SKCMs, and studies have confirmed that anti-PD-1 immunotherapy is particularly recommended for melanomas originating from areas of chronic sun exposure ( 37 ).…”