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Shannon AB, Zager JS, Perez MC. Clinical Characteristics and Special Considerations in the Management of Rare Melanoma Subtypes. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2395. [PMID: 39001457 PMCID: PMC11240680 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Rare histologic subtypes of melanoma, including acral, mucosal, uveal, and desmoplastic melanomas, only make up 5% of all diagnosed melanomas and are often underrepresented in large, randomized trials. Recent advancements in systemic therapy have shown marked improvement in pathologic response rates, improving progression-free and overall survival among cutaneous melanoma patients, but there are limited data to demonstrate improved survival among rarer subtypes of melanoma. Acral melanoma has a poor response to immunotherapy and is associated with worse survival. Mucosal melanoma has a large variability in its presentation, a poor prognosis, and a low mutational burden. Uveal melanoma is associated with a high rate of liver metastasis; recent adoption of infusion and perfusion therapies has demonstrated improved survival among these patients. Desmoplastic melanoma, a high-risk cutaneous melanoma, is associated with high locoregional recurrence rates and mutational burden, suggesting this melanoma may have enhanced response to immunotherapy. While these variants of melanoma represent distinct disease entities, this review highlights the clinicopathologic characteristics and treatment recommendations for each of these rare melanomas and highlights the utility of modern therapies for each of them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne B Shannon
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Jonathan S Zager
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Matthew C Perez
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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Su DG, Schoenfeld DA, Ibrahim W, Cabrejo R, Djureinovic D, Baumann R, Rimm DL, Khan SA, Halaban R, Kluger HM, Olino K, Galan A, Clune J. Digital spatial proteomic profiling reveals immune checkpoints as biomarkers in lymphoid aggregates and tumor microenvironment of desmoplastic melanoma. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008646. [PMID: 38519058 PMCID: PMC10961546 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is a rare melanoma subtype characterized by dense fibrous stroma, a propensity for local recurrence, and a high response rate to programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade. Occult sentinel lymph node positivity is significantly lower in both pure and mixed DM than in conventional melanoma, underscoring the need for better prognostic biomarkers to inform therapeutic strategies. METHODS We assembled a tissue microarray comprising various cores of tumor, stroma, and lymphoid aggregates from 45 patients with histologically confirmed DM diagnosed between 1989 and 2018. Using a panel of 62 validated immune-oncology markers, we performed digital spatial profiling using the NanoString GeoMx platform and quantified expression in three tissue compartments defined by fluorescence colocalization (tumor (S100+/PMEL+/SYTO+), leukocytes (CD45+/SYTO+), and non-immune stroma (S100-/PMEL-/CD45-/SYTO+)). RESULTS We observed higher expression of immune checkpoints (lymphocyte-activation gene 3 [LAG-3] and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein-4 [CTLA-4]) and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) markers (smooth muscle actin (SMA)) in the tumor compartments of pure DMs than mixed DMs. When comparing lymphoid aggregates (LA) to non-LA tumor cores, LAs were more enriched with CD20+B cells, but non-LA intratumoral leukocytes were more enriched with macrophage/monocytic markers (CD163, CD68, CD14) and had higher LAG-3 and CTLA-4 expression levels. Higher intratumoral PD-1 and LA-based LAG-3 expression appear to be associated with worse survival. CONCLUSIONS Our proteomic analysis reveals an intra-tumoral population of SMA+CAFs enriched in pure DM. Additionally, increased expressions of immune checkpoints (LAG-3 and PD-1) in LA and within tumor were associated with poorer prognosis. These findings might have therapeutic implications and help guide treatment selection in addition to informing potential prognostic significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Su
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - David A Schoenfeld
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Wael Ibrahim
- Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Raysa Cabrejo
- Department of Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Dijana Djureinovic
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Raymond Baumann
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - David L Rimm
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sajid A Khan
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Ruth Halaban
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Harriet M Kluger
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kelly Olino
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Anjela Galan
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - James Clune
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Light JG, Freeman T, Russell AJ, Council ML, Michalski BM. Pure and Mixed Variants of Desmoplastic Melanoma: A Single-Center, Retrospective, Clinicopathologic Review. Dermatol Surg 2024; 50:228-233. [PMID: 38048060 DOI: 10.1097/dss.0000000000004038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is a rare melanoma variant. Prognostic indicators and survival vary widely and are further confounded by the histopathologic distinction between pure DM (pDM) and mixed DM (mDM) subtypes. The utility of current treatment guidelines is limited by the lack of evidence-based recommendations. OBJECTIVE To compare the clinicopathologic characteristics of pure and mixed subtypes of DMs. METHODS All cases of DM were identified from the Washington University in St Louis institutional pathology database between January 2000 and September 2022. Fifty-two cases were identified and subsequently categorized as pure ( n = 26) or mixed ( n = 26). Clinical and histopathologic data were collected and compared. RESULTS There were no differences in demographics or tumor location between pure and mixed subtypes. Patients with mDM were more likely to have mitoses present ( p = .03). There were no differences in Breslow depth, tumor diameter, level of invasion, ulceration, and lymphovascular or perineural invasion. The utilization of sentinel lymph node biopsy ( p = .17) and sentinel lymph node positivity ( p = .67) were also similar. CONCLUSION Despite histopathologic distinction between pDM and mDM, these subtypes were found to have similar clinicopathologic characteristics, including similar rates of sentinel lymph node metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy G Light
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Timothy Freeman
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Aaron J Russell
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - M Laurin Council
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Basia M Michalski
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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Shah A, Campbell K, Osmond A. The utility of SOX10 in mixed type desmoplastic melanoma with lymph node metastasis of the spindle cell component: A cautionary tale of inattentional blindness. J Cutan Pathol 2024; 51:99-104. [PMID: 37818864 DOI: 10.1111/cup.14542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Desmoplastic melanoma (DM), a type of spindle cell melanoma separated into pure desmoplastic melanoma (PDM) and mixed desmoplastic melanoma (MDM) subtypes, can be a diagnostic challenge and easily confused for dermal scar, especially PDM. We report a 65-year-old white man who received a left thumb amputation after an initial biopsy for melanoma, an unclassified type with epithelioid morphology. The amputation and sentinel lymph node specimens were significant for residual melanoma with epithelioid morphology, dermal scar, and a slightly expanded "scar-like" capsular area in one of seven lymph nodes, which was diffusely positive for SOX10 on reflex sentinel lymph node immunohistochemical protocol. On re-review of the amputation "scar" like area, a subsequent SOX10 stain confirmed the diagnosis of MDM in this area with epithelioid and spindle cell morphology, significantly upgrading the tumor stage. We share this case to highlight: (i) MDM, although exceptionally uncommon, can result in a pure spindle cell lymph node metastasis, (ii) to encourage increased utilization of SOX10 to assess sentinel lymph node biopsies, especially in the context of melanomas with a spindle cell component, and (iii) share an example of inattentional blindness which was fortunately identified by reflex sentinel lymph node immunohistochemical protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Shah
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Katelynn Campbell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Allison Osmond
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Ishizuki S, Nakamura Y. Role of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Skin Cancer Based on Clinical Studies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3291. [PMID: 37444401 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The sentinel lymph node is the first lymph node from the primary tumor. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a surgical procedure that can detect occult nodal metastasis with relatively low morbidity. It may also have a therapeutic effect via regional disease control. The Multicenter Selective Lymphadenectomy-I (MSLT-I) trial revealed a prognostic benefit from SLNB in melanoma patients. However, it remains unclear whether there is a prognostic benefit from SLNB in patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer owing to a lack of randomized prospective studies. Nevertheless, SLNB provides important information about nodal status, which is one of the strongest factors to predict prognosis and may guide additional nodal treatment. Currently, SLNB is widely used in the management of not only patients with melanoma but also those with nonmelanoma skin cancer. However, the utilization and outcomes of SLNB differ among skin cancers. In addition, SLNB is not recommended for routine use in all patients with skin cancer. In this review, we provide a summary of the role of SLNB and of the indications for SLNB in each skin cancer based on previously published articles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoichiro Ishizuki
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Nakamura
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
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Lezcano C, Berwick M, Luo L, Barnhill R, Duncan LM, Gerami P, Lowe L, Messina JL, Scolyer RA, Wood B, Yeh I, Zembowicz A, Busam KJ. Interobserver agreement in the histopathological classification of desmoplastic melanomas. Pathology 2023; 55:223-226. [PMID: 36653238 PMCID: PMC9974895 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2022.12.347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Desmoplastic melanoma is a subtype of melanoma characterised by amelanotic fusiform melanocytes dispersed in a collagenous stroma. Cell-poor and fibrous stroma-rich 'pure' variants have been distinguished from 'mixed' variants with areas of higher cell density and/or less desmoplastic stroma. This distinction is relevant because patients whose tumours display a pure phenotype have a lower risk for regional lymph node metastasis and distant recurrence. However, little is known about interobserver agreement among pathologists in the subclassification of desmoplastic melanoma. To address this issue, we conducted a study in which eleven dermatopathologists independently evaluated whole slide scanned images of excisions from 30 desmoplastic melanomas. The participating pathologists were asked to classify the tumours as pure or mixed. They were also asked to record the presence or absence of neurotropism and angiotropism. We found substantial interobserver agreement between the 11 dermatopathologists in the classification of tumours as pure versus mixed desmoplastic melanoma (kappa=0.64; p<0.0001). There was fair agreement between the 11 dermatopathologists in the evaluation of presence versus absence of neurotropism (kappa=0.26; p<0.0001), and slight agreement in the assessment of angiotropism (kappa=0.13; p<0.0001). The level of concordance in the subclassification of desmoplastic melanomas is encouraging for the acceptance of this prognostic parameter in the real-world practice of melanoma pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Lezcano
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Marianne Berwick
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Li Luo
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Raymond Barnhill
- Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, Université de Paris UFR de Médecine, Paris, France
| | - Lyn M Duncan
- Pathology Service, Dermatopathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pedram Gerami
- Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lori Lowe
- Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jane L Messina
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Richard A Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Benjamin Wood
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Iwei Yeh
- Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Artur Zembowicz
- Dermatopathology Consultations LLC, Lahey Clinic and Tufts Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Klaus J Busam
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer, New York, NY, USA
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Hodson M, Feustel P, Davis L. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in desmoplastic melanoma - the percent desmoplastic component matters: A systematic review. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2022; 75:4441-4449. [PMID: 36283925 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2022.08.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is a less common form of cutaneous melanoma that has been described for decades; however, controversy remains regarding the management and use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). The purpose of this study is to identify whether SLNB is indicated in all cases of DM, including the pure subtype. METHODS A systematic review was conducted using PubMed (with access to MEDLINE) along with the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 2001 to 2019. Case series and case-control studies were included. RESULTS Eighteen studies were included for a total population of 3,914 patients. SLNB was performed in 2229 patients. The percentage of positive SLNB results was 8.5%. However, patients with pure DM (>90% desmoplastic component) were found to have a significantly lower rate of occult metastatic node positivity when compared with that of mixed DM (4.9% and 14.8%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our findings underscore the importance of the pathologist reporting percentage of desmoplastic component in melanoma. SLNB should be strongly considered for patients with mixed DM. However, the low rate of occult metastatic node positivity in pure DM is beneath the threshold for using SLNB as a staging procedure. SUMMARY Previous studies have suggested that desmoplastic melanoma is less likely to metastasize to regional lymph nodes when compared with conventional melanoma. This review suggests that it is imperative to distinguish the histologic subtype of desmoplastic melanoma to determine if staging procedure is indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul Feustel
- Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Lindy Davis
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Albany Medical Center, 43 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, United States.
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Boada Garcia A, Quer Pi-Sunyer A, Richarz N, Jaka-Moreno A. Actualización en el diagnóstico y manejo del melanoma desmoplásico. ACTAS DERMO-SIFILIOGRAFICAS 2022; 113:47-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ad.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Boada A, Quer Pi-Sunyer A, Richarz N, Jaka-Moreno A. [Translated article] Update on the Diagnosis and Management of Desmoplastic Melanoma. ACTAS DERMO-SIFILIOGRAFICAS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ad.2021.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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10
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Boada A, Quer Pi-Sunyer A, Richarz N, Jaka-Moreno A. Update on the Diagnosis and Management of Desmoplastic Melanoma. ACTAS DERMO-SIFILIOGRAFICAS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.adengl.2021.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Chu S, Schrom KP, Tripathi R, Conic RR, Ezaldein HH, Scott JF, Honda K. Pure and Mixed Desmoplastic Melanomas: A Retrospective Clinicopathologic Comparison of 33 Cases. Am J Dermatopathol 2021; 43:776-780. [PMID: 33534213 PMCID: PMC8310890 DOI: 10.1097/dad.0000000000001909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pure and mixed desmoplastic melanomas (DMs) may have different natural histories and behaviors. METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with DM at our institution between January 1997 and April 2019. A total of 33 unique DMs were identified and subsequently analyzed based on the histologic type (pure vs. mixed). RESULTS The majority (57.6%) of our cases were classified as pure histology. Patients with pure DMs were more likely to be men (P = 0.035) and be older than 65 years (P = 0.019) compared with patients with mixed DMs. Patients with mixed DM were more likely to have mitoses present (P = 0.001) compared with patients with pure DM. There were no differences in ulceration, perineural invasion, vascular invasion, or survival between patients with pure and mixed histologic subtypes. In addition, no differences in sentinel lymph node biopsy, radiation, or chemotherapy were noted between the 2 histologic subtypes. Immunohistochemistry showed that 27.3% of the pure DMs stained with Melan-A and HMB45 were positive for these immunomarkers. CONCLUSIONS Pure and mixed variants of DM were found to have similar clinicopathologic characteristics. Patients with the mixed histologic subtype were more likely to have mitoses, but no difference in the therapeutic management or patient survival was seen between the 2 subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherman Chu
- Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Northwest, Lebanon, Oregon
| | - Kory P. Schrom
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Raghav Tripathi
- Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Rosalynn R.Z. Conic
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Harib H. Ezaldein
- Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Jeffrey F. Scott
- Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kord Honda
- Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
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Laeijendecker AE, El Sharouni MA, Sigurdsson V, van Diest PJ. Desmoplastic melanoma: The role of pure and mixed subtype in sentinel lymph node biopsy and survival. Cancer Med 2019; 9:671-677. [PMID: 31804771 PMCID: PMC6970026 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.2736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Revised: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is an uncommon type of melanoma. Two histological subtypes of DM can be distinguished: pure and mixed (PDM and MDM). We hypothesized that discrimination between these subtypes is associated with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) status and survival. Methods Clinicopathological data from PALGA, the Dutch Pathology Register were retrieved from patients diagnosed with DM in The Netherlands between 2000 and 2014. Clinical and pathological variables were extracted from pathology text files, including pure or mixed desmoplastic morphology. A Cox proportional hazard model was performed for overall and recurrence‐free survival (OS and RFS). Results A total of 239 patients with DM were included, representing 0.4% of all primary cutaneous melanoma in The Netherlands. A total of 114 PDM and 125 MDM patients were identified. MDM was significantly associated with positive SLNB status (P = .035). In multivariable analysis, age (HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.07‐1.14, P < .001) and ulceration (HR 1.98, 95% CI 1.05‐3.75, P = .036) were significant predictors for OS. For RFS, mixed subtype (HR 2.72 95% CI 1.07‐6.89, P = .035), male gender (HR 2.54, 95% CI 1.03‐6.27, P = .043), and Breslow thickness (HR 1.13 per mm, 95% CI 1.05‐1.21, P = .001) were significant predictors. Conclusion MDM is significantly associated with a positive SLNB status. Mixed subtype is significantly correlated with RFS, but not with OS. The distinction between pure and mixed desmoplastic subtype therefore seems to be of clinical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelien E Laeijendecker
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Mary-Ann El Sharouni
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Vigfús Sigurdsson
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J van Diest
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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