Epidemiological trends in the diagnosis of melanoma in a Southern European population: analysis of a large database from a tertiary referral center

Abstract

The aim of this study was to present the epidemiological, clinicopathological, and treatment characteristics of patients diagnosed and treated in a tertiary referral center and to analyze independent factors associated with these characteristics. In this cohort study, epidemiological, clinicopathological, and treatment characteristics of 1461 consecutive melanoma patients diagnosed and treated in a tertiary referral center in 1987-2015 were prospectively collected in a registry. All patients underwent resection of their melanoma lesion. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine independent correlations between characteristics. Internal validation of these correlations was performed by the bootstrap method. The median age of the patients was 53 years. Female sex had a slight predominance, whereas the majority were of Southern European origin. Superficial spreading melanoma was associated with younger age (P<0.001), whereas the nodular melanoma histological subtype was associated independently with indoor occupation (P=0.021) and diagnosis in the years 2004-2015 (P=0.002). Melanomas with Breslow thickness above 1.0 mm were associated with skin type III-IV (P=0.021) and diagnosis in the years 1987-2003 (P=0.046). In addition, histological ulceration was associated with older age (P=0.004) and diagnosis in the years 1987-2003 (P<0.001), whereas histological regression was associated independently with older age (P=0.001). This study presented independent associations between epidemiological, histopathological, and treatment characteristics, which might help to better understand melanoma disease and treatment practices in Southern Europe.

Long‐term follow up of nivolumab in previously untreated Japanese patients with advanced or recurrent malignant melanoma

“…In this study, patient characteristics were generally consistent with those who received nivolumab monotherapy in the CheckMate 067 study . However, the percentage of tumor types reported in Japan for acral lentiginous (46%), superficial spreading (23%) and mucosal (10%) is different to what has been reported in other countries (5%, 54% and .4% respectively) . It has been reported that acral lentiginous (50%‐58%) and mucosal (15%) melanoma are common subtypes in Asian countries.…”

“…(23%) and mucosal (10%) is different to what has been reported in other countries (5%, 54% and .4% respectively). 12 It has been reported that acral lentiginous (50%-58%) 13 and mucosal (15%) 14 melanoma are common subtypes in Asian countries. Thus, the percentage of tumors that are acral lentiginous or mucosal is higher in East Asian countries, including Japan, than in other countries.…”

Five‐year survival with nivolumab in previously untreated Japanese patients with advanced or recurrent malignant melanoma

“…Acral lentiginous melanoma predominates in Japan (~40%), whereas the superficial spreading type predominates in other countries. 2 The proportions of acral lentiginous and mucosal melanoma types in Japan are higher than those reported in other countries 2,[11][12][13][14][15] and, as these types are known to harbor tumor mutations far less frequently than the superficial spreading type, 15 this may affect the effectiveness of nivolumab. Due to these differences, data confirming the long-term efficacy of nivolumab in Japanese melanoma patients are needed.…”

Vasculogenic mimicry as a poor diagnostic and prognostic indicator in patients with malignant‎ melanoma: A ‎systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Interestingly, the Caucasians melanoma patients have aggregative and progressive disease state, leading major cancer-related morbidity and mortality of skin disorder [3]. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, race, lifestyle, and genetic differences are the most important reasons for the increase of melanoma related-mortality [8][9][10][11][12]. Early-stage detection and prevention of melanoma can reduce the mortality of MM and present the best survival [12,13].…”