Clinical Outcomes and Prognostic Factors of Patients With Early Malignant Melanoma in One Latin American Country: Results of the Epidemiological Registry of Malignant Melanoma in Colombia Study.

To describe the population with early malignant melanoma, we performed a cohort study on the basis of the Epidemiological Registry of Malignant Melanoma in Colombia-Asociacion Colombiana de Hematologia y Oncologia. From January 2011 until December 2021, 759 patients were included; the average age was 66 years, 57% were women, acral lentiginous histology was found in 27.8% of patients, and the median follow-up was 36.5 months. The prognostic factors for overall survival in our population are Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 3-4 (hazard ratio [HR], 13.8), stage III (HR, 5.07), received radiotherapy (HR, 3.38), ulceration on histology (HR, 2.68), chronic sun exposure (HR, 2.3), low income (HR, 2.04), previous local surgery (HR, 0.27), and have received adjuvant treatment (HR, 0.41).

Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Patients with Cancer: Experience in a Latin American Country: The ACHOCC-19 Study.

INTRODUCTION: The ACHOCC-19 study was performed to characterize COVID-19 infection in a Colombian oncological population. METHODOLOGY: Analytical cohort study of patients with cancer and COVID-19 infection in Colombia. From April 1 to October 31, 2020. Demographic and clinical variables related to cancer and COVID-19 infection were collected. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality from all causes. The association between the outcome and the prognostic variables was analyzed using logistic regression models and survival analysis with Cox regression. RESULTS: The study included 742 patients; 72% were >51 years. The most prevalent neoplasms were breast (132, 17.77%), colorectal (92, 12.34%), and prostate (81, 10.9%). Two hundred twenty (29.6%) patients were asymptomatic and 96 (26.3%) died. In the bivariate descriptive analysis, higher mortality occurred in patients who were >70 years, patients with lung cancer, ≥2 comorbidities, former smokers, receiving antibiotics, corticosteroids, and anticoagulants, residents of rural areas, low socioeconomic status, and increased acute-phase reactants. In the logistic regression analysis, higher mortality was associated with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) 3 (odds ratio [OR] 28.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.2-99.6); ECOG PS 4 (OR 20.89; 95% CI, 3.36-129.7); two complications from COVID-19 (OR 5.3; 95% CI, 1.50-18.1); and cancer in progression (OR 2.08; 95% CI, 1.01-4.27). In the Cox regression analysis, the statistically significant hazard ratios (HR) were metastatic disease (HR 1.58; 95% CI, 1.16-2.16), cancer in progression (HR 1.08; 95% CI, 1.24-2.61) cancer in partial response (HR 0.31; 95% CI, 0.11-0.88), use of steroids (HR 1.44; 95% CI, 1.01-2.06), and use of antibiotics (HR 2.11; 95% CI, 1.47-2.95). CONCLUSION: In our study, patients with cancer have higher mortality due to COVID-19 infection if they have active cancer, metastatic or progressive cancer, ECOG PS >2, and low socioeconomic status. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study's findings raise the need to carefully evaluate patients with metastatic cancer, in progression, and with impaired Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status to define the relevance of cancer treatment during the pandemic, consider the risk/benefit of the interventions, and establish clear and complete communication with the patients and their families about the risk of complications. There is also the importance of offering additional support to patients with low income and residence in rural areas so that they can have more support during cancer treatment.