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Downey J, Hamm J, Baliski C. Impact of extra-nodal extension and AJCC lymph node staging in predicting recurrence following lymphadenectomy in patients with melanoma. Am J Surg 2024; 231:120-124. [PMID: 38320886 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2024.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regional lymphadenectomy (RL) has traditionally been recommended in patients with melanoma found to have clinical lymphadenopathy or a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Regional control of disease is still a relevant issue for patients, even after undergoing lymphadenectomy. The goal of this study was to identify the clinicopathologic characteristics that predict locoregional recurrence in patients who have undergone either therapeutic lymph node dissection (TLND) or completion lymph node dissection (CLND) following SLNB. METHODS Retrospective review of population-based cohort of patients with melanoma lymph node metastasis from the years 2005-2015. Multivariate, proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to determine factors predicting nodal recurrence. RESULTS 586 patients underwent a RL, with a median follow up of 35 months. Overall, in-basin recurrence rates in the axilla, groin, and head/neck were 7.7 %, 8.7 % and 9.2 %, respectively. Higher unadjusted recurrence rates occurred following CLND than TLND of the groin (12.8 % vs 4.5 %) and neck (10.0 % vs 4.7 %) but not the axilla (7.5 % vs 8.0 %). Upon multivariate analysis, ENE (HR 2.77; p=<0.0001) and the AJCC lymph node stage (N3 vs N1) (HR 2.51; p = 0.025) were predictive of regional recurrence. CONCLUSION The AJCC nodal stage and the presence of extranodal extension were the only variables impacting regional recurrence following regional lymphadenectomy for melanoma. When considering regional disease control, they should be factored into treatment decisions, and surveillance strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Downey
- BC Cancer-Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre, Dept. of Surgical Oncology, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
| | - Jeremy Hamm
- Cancer Surveillance and Outcomes, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Christopher Baliski
- BC Cancer-Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre, Dept. of Surgical Oncology, Kelowna, BC, Canada; Department of Surgery, Kelowna General Hospital, Kelowna, BC, Canada
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Cheng TW, Hartsough E, Giubellino A. Sentinel lymph node assessment in melanoma: current state and future directions. Histopathology 2023; 83:669-684. [PMID: 37526026 DOI: 10.1111/his.15011] [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: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Assessment of sentinel lymph node status is an important step in the evaluation of patients with melanoma for both prognosis and therapeutic management. Pathologists have an important role in this evaluation. The methodologies have varied over time, from the evaluation of dimensions of metastatic burden to determination of the location of the tumour deposits within the lymph node to precise cell counting. However, no single method of sentinel lymph node tumour burden measurement can currently be used as a sole independent predictor of prognosis. The management approach to sentinel lymph node-positive patients has also evolved over time, with a more conservative approach recently recognised for selected cases. This review gives an overview of past and current status in the field with a glimpse into future directions based on prior experiences and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany W Cheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Emily Hartsough
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Alessio Giubellino
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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3
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Broman KK, Hughes TM, Bredbeck BC, Sun J, Kirichenko D, Carr MJ, Sharma A, Bartlett EK, Nijhuis AAG, Thompson JF, Hieken TJ, Kottschade L, Downs J, Gyorki DE, Stahlie E, van Akkooi A, Ollila DW, O'shea K, Song Y, Karakousis G, Moncrieff M, Nobes J, Vetto J, Han D, Hotz M, Farma JM, Deneve JL, Fleming MD, Perez M, Baecher K, Lowe M, Bagge RO, Mattsson J, Lee AY, Berman RS, Chai H, Kroon HM, Teras J, Teras RM, Farrow NE, Beasley GM, Hui JYC, Been L, Kruijff S, Sinco B, Sarnaik AA, Sondak VK, Zager JS, Dossett LA. International Center-Level Variation in Utilization of Completion Lymph Node Dissection and Adjuvant Systemic Therapy for Sentinel Lymph Node-Positive Melanoma at Major Referral Centers. Ann Surg 2023; 277:e1106-e1115. [PMID: 35129464 PMCID: PMC10097464 DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine overall trends and center-level variation in utilization of completion lymph node dissection (CLND) and adjuvant systemic therapy for sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive melanoma. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA Based on recent clinical trials, management options for SLN-positive melanoma now include effective adjuvant systemic therapy and nodal observation instead of CLND. It is unknown how these findings have shaped practice or how these contemporaneous developments have influenced their respective utilization. METHODS We performed an international cohort study at 21 melanoma referral centers in Australia, Europe, and the United States that treated adults with SLN-positive melanoma and negative distant staging from July 2017 to June 2019. We used generalized linear and multinomial logistic regression models with random intercepts for each center to assess center-level variation in CLND and adjuvant systemic treatment, adjusting for patient and disease-specific characteristics. RESULTS Among 1109 patients, performance of CLND decreased from 28% to 8% and adjuvant systemic therapy use increased from 29 to 60%. For both CLND and adjuvant systemic treatment, the most influential factors were nodal tumor size, stage, and location of treating center. There was notable variation among treating centers in management of stage IIIA patients and use of CLND with adjuvant systemic therapy versus nodal observation alone for similar risk patients. CONCLUSIONS There has been an overall decline in CLND and simultaneous adoption of adjuvant systemic therapy for patients with SLN-positive melanoma though wide variation in practice remains. Accounting for differences in patient mix, location of care contributed significantly to the observed variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristy K Broman
- Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
- University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Amanda A G Nijhuis
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John F Thompson
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Emma Stahlie
- Netherlands Cancer institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Yun Song
- University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Marc Moncrieff
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny Nobes
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - John Vetto
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Dale Han
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jan Mattsson
- University Medical Center, Groningen, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Harvey Chai
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Hidde M Kroon
- Royal Adelaide Hospital, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Juri Teras
- North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Roland M Teras
- North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation, Tallinn, Estonia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Amod A Sarnaik
- Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
- University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL
| | - Vernon K Sondak
- Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
- University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL
| | - Jonathan S Zager
- Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
- University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL
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4
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Broman KK, Richman J, Bhatia S. Evidence and implementation gaps in management of sentinel node-positive melanoma in the United States. Surgery 2022; 172:226-233. [PMID: 35120732 PMCID: PMC9232854 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2021.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma clinical trials demonstrated that completion lymph node dissection is low value for most sentinel lymph node-positive patients. Contemporaneous trials of adjuvant systemic immunotherapy and BRAF/MEK targeted therapy showed improved recurrence-free survival in high-risk sentinel lymph node-positive patients. To better understand how oncologic evidence is incorporated into practice (implementation), we evaluated factors associated with discontinuation of completion lymph node dissection and adoption of systemic treatment at United States Commission on Cancer-accredited centers. METHODS In a retrospective cohort study of adults with sentinel lymph node-positive melanoma treated from 2012 to 2017 using the National Cancer Database, we evaluated use of completion lymph node dissection and adjuvant systemic treatment using mixed-effects logistic regression, reporting results as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS Among 10,240 sentinel lymph node-positive melanoma patients, performance of completion lymph node dissection declined from 60% to 27%. Adjuvant systemic treatment increased from 29% to 43% (37% in stage IIIA patients, 46% in IIIB-C). Completion lymph node dissection was less common with lower extremity tumors (odds ratio = 0.53, 95% confidence interval = 0.44-0.64) and more common with multiple positive sentinel lymph nodes (odds ratio = 2.36, 95% confidence interval = 2.08-2.67), treatment at a high- or moderate-volume center (odds ratiohigh = 1.49, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-2.12; odds ratiomoderate = 1.32, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.64), and receipt of systemic therapy (odds ratio = 1.44, 95% confidence interval = 1.27-1.63). The increased likelihood of completion lymph node dissection in patients receiving adjuvant systemic treatment persisted in the most recent study years and in patients with a single positive sentinel lymph node. CONCLUSION At a population level, completion lymph node dissection declined and adjuvant systemic treatment increased, reflecting evidence-responsive care. Variation in persistent use of completion lymph node dissection and in provision of adjuvant treatment for lower risk patients highlights residual gaps in both evidence and implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristy K Broman
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL; Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL.
| | - Joshua Richman
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
| | - Smita Bhatia
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
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Rentroia-Pacheco B, Tjien-Fooh FJ, Quattrocchi E, Kobic A, Wever R, Bellomo D, Meves A, Hieken TJ. Clinicopathologic models predicting non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in cutaneous melanoma patients: Are they useful for patients with a single positive sentinel node? J Surg Oncol 2021; 125:516-524. [PMID: 34735719 PMCID: PMC8799494 DOI: 10.1002/jso.26736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background and Objectives Of clinically node‐negative (cN0) cutaneous melanoma patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis, between 10% and 30% harbor additional metastases in non‐sentinel lymph nodes (NSLNs). Approximately 80% of SLN‐positive patients have a single positive SLN. Methods To assess whether state‐of‐the‐art clinicopathologic models predicting NSLN metastasis had adequate performance, we studied a single‐institution cohort of 143 patients with cN0 SLN‐positive primary melanoma who underwent subsequent completion lymph node dissection. We used sensitivity (SE) and positive predictive value (PPV) to characterize the ability of the models to identify patients at high risk for NSLN disease. Results Across Stage III patients, all clinicopathologic models tested had comparable performances. The best performing model identified 52% of NSLN‐positive patients (SE = 52%, PPV = 37%). However, for the single SLN‐positive subgroup (78% of cohort), none of the models identified high‐risk patients (SE > 20%, PPV > 20%) irrespective of the chosen probability threshold used to define the binary risk labels. Thus, we designed a new model to identify high‐risk patients with a single positive SLN, which achieved a sensitivity of 49% (PPV = 26%). Conclusion For the largest SLN‐positive subgroup, those with a single positive SLN, current model performance is inadequate. New approaches are needed to better estimate nodal disease burden of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ajdin Kobic
- Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Renske Wever
- Division of Bioinformatics, SkylineDx B.V., Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Domenico Bellomo
- Division of Bioinformatics, SkylineDx B.V., Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander Meves
- Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Tina J Hieken
- Division of Breast and Melanoma Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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6
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Broman KK, Hughes TM, Dossett LA, Sun J, Carr MJ, Kirichenko DA, Sharma A, Bartlett EK, Nijhuis AA, Thompson JF, Hieken TJ, Kottschade L, Downs J, Gyorki DE, Stahlie E, van Akkooi A, Ollila DW, Frank J, Song Y, Karakousis G, Moncrieff M, Nobes J, Vetto J, Han D, Farma J, Deneve JL, Fleming MD, Perez M, Baecher K, Lowe M, Bagge RO, Mattsson J, Lee AY, Berman RS, Chai H, Kroon HM, Teras RM, Teras J, Farrow NE, Beasley GM, Hui JY, Been L, Kruijff S, Boulware D, Sarnaik AA, Sondak VK, Zager JS. Surveillance of Sentinel Node-Positive Melanoma Patients with Reasons for Exclusion from MSLT-II: Multi-Institutional Propensity Score Matched Analysis. J Am Coll Surg 2021; 232:424-431. [PMID: 33316427 PMCID: PMC8764869 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2020.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive melanoma, two randomized trials demonstrated equivalent melanoma-specific survival with nodal surveillance vs completion lymph node dissection (CLND). Patients with microsatellites, extranodal extension (ENE) in the SLN, or >3 positive SLNs constitute a high-risk group largely excluded from the randomized trials, for whom appropriate management remains unknown. STUDY DESIGN SLN-positive patients with any of the three high-risk features were identified from an international cohort. CLND patients were matched 1:1 with surveillance patients using propensity scores. Risk of any-site recurrence, SLN-basin-only recurrence, and melanoma-specific mortality were compared. RESULTS Among 1,154 SLN-positive patients, 166 had ENE, microsatellites, and/or >3 positive SLN. At 18.5 months median follow-up, 49% had recurrence (vs 26% in patients without high-risk features, p < 0.01). Among high-risk patients, 52 (31%) underwent CLND and 114 (69%) received surveillance. Fifty-one CLND patients were matched to 51 surveillance patients. The matched cohort was balanced on tumor, nodal, and adjuvant treatment factors. There were no significant differences in any-site recurrence (CLND 49%, surveillance 45%, p = 0.99), SLN-basin-only recurrence (CLND 6%, surveillance 14%, p = 0.20), or melanoma-specific mortality (CLND 14%, surveillance 12%, p = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS SLN-positive patients with microsatellites, ENE, or >3 positive SLN constitute a high-risk group with a 2-fold greater recurrence risk. For those managed with nodal surveillance, SLN-basin recurrences were more frequent, but all-site recurrence and melanoma-specific mortality were comparable to patients treated with CLND. Most recurrences were outside the SLN-basin, supporting use of nodal surveillance for SLN-positive patients with microsatellites, ENE, and/or >3 positive SLN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristy K Broman
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL; Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
| | - Tasha M Hughes
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Lesly A Dossett
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - James Sun
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH
| | - Michael J Carr
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | | | - Avinash Sharma
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Edmund K Bartlett
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Amanda Ag Nijhuis
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John F Thompson
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Lisa Kottschade
- Department of Oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Jennifer Downs
- Division of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David E Gyorki
- Division of Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Emma Stahlie
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander van Akkooi
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - David W Ollila
- Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Jill Frank
- Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Yun Song
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Marc Moncrieff
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny Nobes
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - John Vetto
- Department of Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Dale Han
- Department of Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Jeffrey Farma
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jeremiah L Deneve
- Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
| | - Martin D Fleming
- Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
| | - Matthew Perez
- Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - Michael Lowe
- Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Roger Olofsson Bagge
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jan Mattsson
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ann Y Lee
- Department of Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
| | | | - Harvey Chai
- Department of Surgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia; Discipline of Surgery, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Hidde M Kroon
- Department of Surgery, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia; Discipline of Surgery, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Roland M Teras
- Surgery Clinic, North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Juri Teras
- Surgery Clinic, North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation, Tallinn, Estonia
| | | | | | - Jane Yc Hui
- Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Lukas Been
- Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Schelto Kruijff
- Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - David Boulware
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Amod A Sarnaik
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - Vernon K Sondak
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
| | - Jonathan S Zager
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; Department of Oncologic Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
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Fonseca IB, Lindote MVN, Monteiro MR, Doria Filho E, Pinto CAL, Jafelicci AS, de Melo Lôbo M, Calsavara VF, Bertolli E, Duprat Neto JP. Sentinel Node Status is the Most Important Prognostic Information for Clinical Stage IIB and IIC Melanoma Patients. Ann Surg Oncol 2020; 27:4133-4140. [PMID: 32767223 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-020-08959-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) for melanoma patients has been questioned. We aimed to study high-risk stage II melanoma patients who underwent SNB to determine what the prognostic factors regarding recurrence and mortality were, and evaluate how relevant SNB status is in this scenario. METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of clinical stage IIB/IIC melanoma patients who underwent SNB from 2000 to 2015 in a single institution. Prognostic factors related to distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS) and melanoma-specific survival (MSS) were assessed from multiple Cox regression. Relevant variables were used to create risk predictor nomograms for DRFS and MSS. RESULTS From 1213 SNB, 259 were performed for clinical stage IIB/IIC melanoma patients. SNB status was the most important variable for both endpoints. Patients with positive SNB presented median DRFS of 35.73 months (95% CI 21.38-50.08, SE 7.32) and median MSS of 66.4 months (95% CI 29.76-103.03, SE 18.69), meanwhile both median DRFS and MSS were not achieved for those with negative SNB (logrank < 0.0001). Both nomograms have been internally validated and presented adequate calibration (C-index was 0.734 for DRFS and 0.718 for MSS). CONCLUSIONS SNB status was the most important risk factor in our cohort of clinical stage IIB and IIC patients and, in conjunction with well-established primary tumor characteristics, should not be abandoned. Their use in prognosis for these patients remains extremely useful for daily practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Eduardo Bertolli
- Skin Cancer Department, A. C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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