Mitotic rate correlates with sentinel lymph node status and outcome in cutaneous melanoma greater than 1 millimeter in thickness: A multi-institutional study of 1524 cases.

BACKGROUND: The 7th edition of the TNM American Joint Committee on Cancer classification incorporates mitotic rate (MR) only for primary cutaneous melanoma (PCM) with Breslow thickness (BT) ≤1 mm. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether and to what extent MR is able to predict sentinel lymph node (SLN) status and clinical outcome of PCM patients with BT >1 mm. METHODS: The study included consecutive patients with PCM. Logistic regression and Cox regression model were used to analyze the impact of MR on SLN status, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival. RESULTS: From 1998 to 2015, 1524 PCM (median age 57.8 years) cases were diagnosed with a BT >1 mm in six centers of the Italian Melanoma Intergroup. Median follow-up was 5.0 years. By multivariate analysis, MR was associated with SLN positivity (odds ratio 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-3.50, P = .018). After adjusting for BT, ulceration, age, sex, and SLN status, MR correlated with a poor DFS (hazard ratio 1.52, 95% CI 1.18-1.97, P = .002) and overall survival (hazard ratio 1.63, 95% CI 1.17-2.29, P = .004). LIMITATIONS: Retrospective analysis. CONCLUSION: MR is an independent prognostic factor for PCM patients with BT >1 mm. Incorporating this tissue biomarker could provide a better stratification of patients entering clinical trials in the adjuvant setting.

Multiple primary melanomas (MPMs) and criteria for genetic assessment: MultiMEL, a multicenter study of the Italian Melanoma Intergroup.

BACKGROUND: Multiple primary melanoma (MPM), in concert with a positive family history, is a predictor of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) germline mutations. A rule regarding the presence of either 2 or 3 or more cancer events (melanoma and pancreatic cancer) in low or high melanoma incidence populations, respectively, has been established to select patients for genetic referral. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the CDKN2A/CDK4/microphthalmia-associated transcription factor mutation rate among Italian patients with MPM to appropriately direct genetic counseling regardless of family history. METHODS: In all, 587 patients with MPM and an equal number with single primary melanomas and control subjects were consecutively enrolled at the participating centers and tested for CDKN2A, CDK4, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor. RESULTS: CDKN2A germline mutations were found in 19% of patients with MPM versus 4.4% of patients with single primary melanoma. In familial MPM cases the mutation rate varied from 36.6% to 58.8%, whereas in sporadic MPM cases it varied from 8.2% to 17.6% in patients with 2 and 3 or more melanomas, respectively. The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor E318K mutation accounted for 3% of MPM cases altogether. LIMITATIONS: The study was hospital based, not population based. Rare novel susceptibility genes were not tested. CONCLUSION: Italian patients who developed 2 melanomas, even in situ, should be referred for genetic counseling even in the absence of family history.

Trichphyton violaceum and T. soudanese: re-emerging pathogens in Italy, 2005-2013.

Dermatomycoses due to Trichophyton violaceum are described in Mediterranean Countries, North Africa and in the Horn of Africa where T. soudanense is present too, but it was rare until few years ago in Italy. Aim of the present study was to evaluate an Italian multicenter 9 year (2005-2013) experience concerning these re-emerging pathogens. Fifty three fungal strains were sent from clinical laboratories to the Medical Mycology Committee (CoSM)--Italian Association of Clinical Microbiology (AMCLI) for mycological confirmation. Strains were identified as T. violaceum (23) and T. soudanense (30) by phenotypic and genotypic methods. These dermatophytes present epidemiological (high rate of inter-human transmission, high risk among adopted children coming from countries of either the Horn of Africa or Sub-Saharan Africa also in outbreaks of tinea capitis) and clinical peculiarities (reduced alopecia, presence of exudative lesions) confirming the originality of these "imported" dermatophyte infections.

Patterns of detection of superficial spreading and nodular-type melanoma: a multicenter Italian study.

BACKGROUND: Nodular histotype represents the condition that is mostly associated with diagnosis of thick melanoma. OBJECTIVE: The objectives were to evaluate variables associated with and pattern of detection of nodular melanomas and to investigate variables associated with early diagnosis in accordance with histotype (nodular vs. superficial spreading melanomas). METHODS: From the original data set of 816 melanomas, all the invasive lesions classified as superficial spreading (n=500) and nodular (n=93) melanomas were considered for the study. A multivariate logistic analysis was performed. Results. Nodular melanomas did not significantly differ from superficial spreading melanomas regarding sex, anatomic site, number of whole-body nevi, and the presence of atypical nevi. As expected, nodular melanomas were represented by a higher percentage of thick (>2 mm) lesions compared to superficial spreading melanomas (64.5% vs. 9.6%, p<0.001). The pattern of detection significantly differed between nodular and superficial spreading melanomas, the former being more frequently self-detected (44.1% vs. 38.0%) or detected by the family doctor (34.4% vs. 11.4%). Female sex, high level of education, and detection made by a dermatologist had an independent, protective effect against late (>1 mm in thickness) diagnosis in superficial spreading melanomas. No protective variable associated with nodular melanomas was found. CONCLUSION: Patterns of detection for nodular melanomas significantly differ from those for superficial spreading melanomas. For superficial spreading, but not for nodular, melanomas, variables associated with protective effect against late diagnosis can be identified.