Persistent poverty and incidence-based melanoma mortality in Texas.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown that individuals living in areas with persistent poverty (PP) experience worse cancer outcomes compared to those living in areas with transient or no persistent poverty (nPP). The association between PP and melanoma outcomes remains unexplored. We hypothesized that melanoma patients living in PP counties (defined as counties with ≥ 20% of residents living at or below the federal poverty level for the past two decennial censuses) would exhibit higher rates of incidence-based melanoma mortality (IMM). METHODS: We used Texas Cancer Registry data to identify the patients diagnosed with invasive melanoma or melanoma in situ (stages 0 through 4) between 2000 and 2018 (n = 82,458). Each patient's PP status was determined by their county of residence at the time of diagnosis. RESULTS: After adjusting for demographic variables, logistic regression analyses revealed that melanoma patients in PP counties had statistically significant higher IMM compared to those in nPP counties (17.4% versus 11.3%) with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.35 (95% CI 1.25-1.47). CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the relationship between persistent poverty and incidence-based melanoma mortality rates, revealing that melanoma patients residing in counties with persistent poverty have higher melanoma-specific mortality compared to those residing in counties with transient or no poverty. This study further emphasizes the importance of considering area-specific socioeconomic characteristics when implementing place-based interventions to facilitate early melanoma diagnosis and improve melanoma treatment outcomes.

Gut Microbiome in Patients With Early-Stage and Late-Stage Melanoma.

Importance: The gut microbiome modulates the immune system and responses to immunotherapy in patients with late-stage melanoma. It is unknown whether fecal microbiota profiles differ between healthy individuals and patients with melanoma or if microbiota profiles differ among patients with different stages of melanoma. Defining gut microbiota profiles in individuals without melanoma and those with early-stage and late-stage melanoma may reveal features associated with disease progression. Objective: To characterize and compare gut microbiota profiles between healthy volunteers and patients with melanoma and between patients with early-stage and late-stage melanoma. Design, Setting, and Participants: This single-site case-control study took place at an academic comprehensive cancer center. Fecal samples were collected from systemic treatment-naive patients with stage I to IV melanoma from June 1, 2015, to January 31, 2019, and from healthy volunteers from June 1, 2021, to January 31, 2022. Patients were followed up for disease recurrence until November 30, 2021. Main Outcomes and Measures: Fecal microbiota was profiled by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Clinical and pathologic characteristics, treatment, and disease recurrence were extracted from electronic medical records. Fecal microbiome diversity, taxonomic profiles and inferred functional profiles were compared between groups. Results: A total of 228 participants were enrolled (126 men [55.3%]; median age, 59 [range, 21-90] years), including 49 volunteers without melanoma, 38 patients with early-stage melanoma (29 with stage I or melanoma in situ and 9 with stage II), and 141 with late-stage melanoma (66 with stage III and 75 with stage IV). Community differences were observed between patients with melanoma and volunteers. Patients with melanoma had a higher relative abundance of Fusobacterium compared with controls on univariate analysis (0.19% vs 0.003%; P < .001), but this association was attenuated when adjusted for covariates (log2 fold change of 5.18 vs controls; P = .09). Microbiomes were distinct between patients with early-stage and late-stage melanoma. Early-stage melanoma had a higher alpha diversity (Inverse Simpson Index 14.6 [IQR, 9.8-23.0] vs 10.8 [IQR, 7.2-16.8]; P = .003), and a higher abundance of the genus Roseburia on univariate analysis (2.4% vs 1.2%; P < .001) though statistical significance was lost with covariate adjustment (log2 fold change of 0.86 vs controls; P = .13). Multiple functional pathways were differentially enriched between groups. No associations were observed between the microbial taxa and disease recurrence in patients with stage III melanoma treated with adjuvant immunotherapy. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this case-control study suggest that fecal microbiota profiles were significantly different among patients with melanoma and controls and between patients with early-stage and late-stage melanoma. Prospective investigations of the gut microbiome and changes that occur with disease progression may identify future microbial targets for intervention.

Educational interventions to promote sun-protection behaviors in adolescents in the United States: A systematic review.

The most prevalent modifiable risk factor for skin cancer is cumulative lifetime exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, supporting the development of interventions promoting the early adoption of sun-protection behaviors. This systematic review summarizes behavioral interventions designed to promote sun-protection behaviors and reduce harmful UV exposure among U.S. adolescents. Ten studies describing 15 intervention arms were ultimately included in this review and comprised seven cross-sectional studies, a cohort study, a quasi-experimental study, and a randomized controlled trial. Most interventions included in this review were effective in increasing awareness of skin cancer and knowledge of the risk factors for skin cancer, but knowledge did not correlate with self-reported frequency of sun-protection behaviors in this population.

The social vulnerability index as a risk stratification tool for health disparity research in cancer patients: a scoping review.

PURPOSE: The social vulnerability index (SVI), developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is a novel composite measure encompassing multiple variables that correspond to key social determinants of health. The objective of this review was to investigate innovative applications of the SVI to oncology research and to employ the framework of the cancer care continuum to elucidate further research opportunities. METHODS: A systematic search for relevant articles was performed in five databases from inception to 13 May 2022. Included studies applied the SVI to analyze outcomes in cancer patients. Study characteristics, patent populations, data sources, and outcomes were extracted from each article. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: In total, 31 studies were included. Along the cancer care continuum, five applied the SVI to examine geographic disparities in potentially cancer-causing exposures; seven in cancer diagnosis; fourteen in cancer treatment; nine in treatment recovery; one in survivorship care; and two in end-of-life care. Fifteen examined disparities in mortality. CONCLUSION: In highlighting place-based disparities in patient outcomes, the SVI represents a promising tool for future oncology research. As a reliable geocoded dataset, the SVI may inform the development and implementation of targeted interventions to prevent cancer morbidity and mortality at the neighborhood level.

Expert Consensus Statement on Proficiency Standards for Dermoscopy Education in Primary Care.

BACKGROUND: Primary care providers (PCPs) frequently address dermatologic concerns and perform skin examinations during clinical encounters. For PCPs who evaluate concerning skin lesions, dermoscopy (a noninvasive skin visualization technique) has been shown to increase the sensitivity for skin cancer diagnosis compared with unassisted clinical examinations. Because no formal consensus existed on the fundamental knowledge and skills that PCPs should have with respect to dermoscopy for skin cancer detection, the objective of this study was to develop an expert consensus statement on proficiency standards for PCPs learning or using dermoscopy. METHODS: A 2-phase modified Delphi method was used to develop 2 proficiency standards. In the study's first phase, a focus group of PCPs and dermatologists generated a list of dermoscopic diagnoses and associated features. In the second phase, a larger panel evaluated the proposed list and determined whether each diagnosis was reflective of a foundational or intermediate proficiency or neither. RESULTS: Of the 35 initial panelists, 5 PCPs were lost to follow-up or withdrew; 30 completed the fifth and last round. The final consensus-based list contained 39 dermoscopic diagnoses and associated features. CONCLUSIONS: This consensus statement will inform the development of PCP-targeted dermoscopy training initiatives designed to support early cancer detection.

Modulation of the Gut Microbiome to Enhance Immunotherapy Response in Metastatic Melanoma Patients: A Clinical Review.

For patients with metastatic melanoma, immunotherapy agents represent a promising treatment option, and researchers are actively seeking to identify factors that may predict a favorable response in patients. Recent studies have elucidated possible associations between the gut microbiome and the effects of immunotherapy, where variations in the gut microbiome may influence treatment response and frequency of adverse effects. In this clinical review, we describe the current literature related to the gut microbiome in the setting of immunotherapy, and we provide an overview of interventions under investigation that may modulate the gut microbiome. These interventions include fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, and dietary modifications.

Sensitivity and Specificity for Skin Cancer Diagnosis in Primary Care Providers: a Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis of Educational Interventions and Diagnostic Algorithms.

BACKGROUND: In areas without convenient access to dermatology care, primary care providers (PCPs) serve as an important patient resource for early skin cancer detection. To determine the most effective strategy for skin cancer detection training in PCPs, we conducted a systematic review of educational interventions and performed a meta-analysis on sensitivity and specificity outcomes in PCPs. OBJECTIVES: To summarize data on skin cancer sensitivity and specificity outcomes for PCP-targeted training programs and diagnostic algorithms. Our PCP cohort included practicing physicians, trainee physicians, and advanced practice practitioners. METHODS: A literature search was performed in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for relevant English-language articles published worldwide from 2000 onward. Results were screened for eligibility, and overlapping datasets were reconciled. Data extracted included the educational intervention, diagnostic algorithm, and outcomes of interest (sensitivity and specificity). Outcomes were pooled across interventions that taught the same diagnostic algorithm. A bivariate model was fit to compare different interventions/algorithms. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: In total, 21 articles were included in this review, encompassing over 58,610 assessments of skin lesions by about 1529 participants worldwide. Training programs that implemented the triage-amalgamated dermoscopic algorithm (TADA) demonstrated high pooled sensitivity (91.7%) and high pooled specificity (81.4%) among PCPs. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Overall, this systematic review and meta-analysis showed that dermoscopy training in PCPs was generally associated with gains in skin cancer sensitivity without loss of specificity. Clinically, this correlates with fewer skin cancers overlooked by PCPs and fewer excisions of benign lesions.

Educational Interventions to Support Primary Care Provider Performance of Diagnostic Skin Cancer Examinations: A Systematic Literature Review.

To our knowledge, there is no available standardized educational curriculum designed to promote the incorporation of skin cancer examinations and procedures into general practice. To explore the contemporary training landscape, we conducted a systematic review of educational interventions designed to support skin cancer diagnostic examinations by primary care providers (PCPs). Our review uniquely encompasses all PCPs, including practicing physicians, residents, and advanced practice practitioners (APPs). The objective of this study is to review and synthesize worldwide data on educational interventions addressing PCP performance of skin cancer diagnostic examinations. A systematic review was performed in MEDLINE, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Scopus for English language articles worldwide published from 2000 onwards. Articles were screened for eligibility, and possibly overlapping datasets were resolved. Data extracted included curriculum content, delivery format, and educational outcomes. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 63 studies were selected for data inclusion with one addressing training for resident physicians, 4 for APPs, and the remainder for practicing physicians. Educational interventions included in this review reflect the pre-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic educational environment: half provided live/synchronous instruction of about 5-h duration on average, and a quarter featured interactive components. Less than a quarter of interventions included practice change as a specific reported outcome. Without sustainable practice change, the anticipated long-term benefits of early cancer detection in patients remain limited. Previous and existing educational interventions designed to support skin cancer detection by PCPs demonstrate heterogeneous curriculum content, delivery methods, and educational outcomes. An ideal intervention would teach consensus-derived clinical competencies, provide meaningful learner feedback, and measure outcomes, such as knowledge/competency, confidence/attitudes, and practice change, using validated instruments.