Distinct presentation of melanoma in Black patients may inform strategies to improve outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Melanoma guidelines stem largely from data on non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients. We aimed to identify features of melanoma within non-Hispanic Black (NHB) patients to inform strategies for earlier detection and treatment. METHODS: From 2004 to 2019 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data, we identified nonmetastatic melanoma patients with known TN category and race. Kaplan-Meier cancer-specific survival (CSS) estimates and multivariable Cox proportional hazard modeling analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of 492 597 patients, 1499 (0.3%) were NHB, who were younger (21% vs. 17% age <50) and more commonly female (54% vs. 41%) than NHW, both p < 0.0005. For NHBs, lower extremity was the most common site (52% vs. 15% for NHWs, p < 0.0001), T category was higher (55% Tis-T1 vs. 82%; 27% T3-T4 vs. 8%, p < 0.0001) and stage at presentation was higher (19% Stage III, vs. 6%, p < 0.0001). Within the NHB cohort, males were older, and more often node-positive than females. Five-year Stage III CSS was 42% for NHB males versus 71% for females, adjusting for age and clinical nodal status (hazard ratio 2.48). CONCLUSIONS: NHB melanoma patients presented with distinct tumor characteristics. NHB males with Stage III disease had inferior CSS. Focus on this high-risk patient cohort to promote earlier detection and treatment may improve outcomes.

Racial and ethnic minorities in lower income brackets are associated with late-stage diagnosis of non-ocular melanoma.

INTRODUCTION: Despite advances in oncologic care, racial and socio-economic outcome disparities persist in non-ocular melanoma patients. However, the unmet need is understanding the population at risk for late tumor stage at diagnosis. We sought to analyze the groups with an increased risk of unfavorable tumor stage at diagnosis. METHODS: Patients with non-ocular melanoma were reviewed using the 2000-2019 SEER Research Data (SEER*Stat) and grouped into early tumor stage at diagnosis (stage I-IIC) and late (stage III-IVC). Multivariable logistic and Cox regression examined the association of demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors with late-stage diagnosis and overall survival, respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimates were calculated with racial and county-level household income stratification to evaluate overall survival differences. RESULTS: Of 147,606 patients diagnosed with non-ocular melanoma, 38,695 cases were identified based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and separated into those with early-stage diagnosis (median 63 years) and those with late-stage (median 62 years). Male gender, Black race, Asian or Pacific Islander race, and Hispanic ethnicity were significantly associated with late-stage tumor diagnosis (p < 0.001). Receipt of surgery and a median county-level household income >$75,000 were protective for late-stage tumor diagnosis (p < 0.001). Additionally, male gender, Black, Asian or Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaskan Native races, metastasis, and late-stage diagnosis were associated with factors significantly associated with decreased overall survival (p-value <0.001). Receipt of surgery and a median household income of $50,000-$74,999 and >$75,000 were factors associated with increased overall survival (p < 0.001). The median overall survival was 89 months, but Black patients (58 months) and <$50,000 income households (75 months) had significantly worse survival (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hispanic ethnicity, Black and Asian or Pacific Islander race, and low-income households were associated with late-stage non-ocular melanoma at diagnosis. Black, Asian or Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaskan Native races and lower-income households were associated with worse overall survival. Identifying addressable causal factors that link this at-risk population to poor cancer prognosis is warranted.

Melanoma Detection in Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander Patients in a Large Skin Cancer Screening Initiative.

This cohort study investigates patterns in melanoma detection in racial and ethnic minority populations as part of a large, primary care­based screening initiative.

Nodular type predominance of head and neck cutaneous malignant melanoma in Asian populations leads to poor outcome and low survival.

Cutaneous malignant melanomas of the head and neck (HNM) are proposed to have notable histological and clinical differences from those at other sites (other melanoma); however, HNMs among Asians have remained poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of HNM in Asians. Asian melanoma patients who underwent surgical treatment from January 2003 to December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinicopathological features and risk factors for local recurrence, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis were analyzed. Among 230 patients, 28 (12.2%) were diagnosed with HNM, and 202 (87.8%) with other melanoma. The histologic subtype significantly differed as the nodular type was predominant in HNM whereas the acral lentiginous type was predominant in other melanoma ( P  < 0.001). HNM was significantly associated with higher local recurrence ( P  = 0.045), lymph node metastasis ( P  = 0.048), distant metastasis ( P  = 0.023), and lower 5-year disease-free survival ( P  = 0.022) than other melanoma. Ulceration was the risk factor for lymph node metastasis based on multivariable analysis ( P  = 0.013). A high proportion of HNM present as the nodular subtype in Asians, leading to poor outcomes and low survival. Therefore, more cautious surveillance, evaluation, and aggressive treatment are required.

Asian American and Pacific Islander patients with melanoma have increased odds of treatment delays: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) melanoma patients have higher mortality than non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients. Treatment delays may contribute, but whether AAPI patients have longer time from diagnosis to definitive surgery (TTDS) is unknown. OBJECTIVES: Investigate TTDS differences between AAPI and NHW melanoma patients. METHODS: Retrospective review of AAPI and NHW melanoma patients in the National Cancer Database (NCD) (2004-2020). The association of race with TTDS was evaluated by multivariable logistic regression, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Of 354,943 AAPI and NHW melanoma patients identified, 1155 (0.33%) were AAPI. AAPI patients had longer TTDS for stage I, II, and III melanoma (P < .05 for all). Adjusting for sociodemographic factors, AAPI patients had 1.5 times the odds of a TTDS between 61 and 90 days and twice the odds of a TTDS >90 days. Racial differences in TTDS persisted in Medicare and private insurance types. Uninsured AAPI patients had the longest TTDS (mean, 53.26 days), while those with private insurance had the shortest TTDS (mean, 34.92 days; P < .001 for both). LIMITATION: AAPI patients comprised 0.33% of the sample. CONCLUSIONS: AAPI melanoma patients have increased odds of treatment delays. Associated socioeconomic differences should inform efforts to reduce disparities in treatment and survival.

Melanoma crude incidence rates among White South Africans climbing as in other countries: urgent call for targeted skin cancer prevention and awareness campaigns.

[We have not prepared an abstract for the editorial but we can do so if required.].

Association between VDR Gene Polymorphisms and Melanoma Susceptibility in a Colombian Population.

BACKGROUND: The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is responsible for mediating the effects of vitamin D through regulation of other gene transcriptions. There are several polymorphisms that alter the gene expression or the function of this protein. We aimed to analyze the association between two SNPs  of VDR gene and melanoma cancer in Colombian patients. METHODS: We included 120 healthy individual as controls and 120 melanoma cancer patients as cases . Patients in both groups were matched in terms of gender and age. The genotyping of rs731236 and rs2228570 polymorphisms was performed using PCR-RFLP. The SNPStats program was used to carry out the statistical analysis through a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Under dominant model, we found that rs2228570 polymorphism was associated with melanoma cancer risk (C/C vs C/T-T/T, OR: 5.10, 95% CI: 2.85-9.14), whereas rs731236 polymorphism was associated with a protective effect against this cancer (T/T vs T/C, OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.14-0.53). CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that both polymorphisms were involved in the development of melanoma cancer, increasing or decreasing this risk.

Caucasians with acral lentiginous melanoma have the same outcome as patients with stage- and limb-matched superficial spreading melanoma.

PURPOSE: Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), a relatively rare subtype of cutaneous melanoma, has been reported to have a worse prognosis than other melanomas. We aimed to assess clinical findings in Caucasian ALM patients and compare the data with a matched cohort of superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) patients. METHODS: We studied 63 patients with ALM and 63 randomly stage- and limb-matched patients with SSM (non-ALM). In both cohorts, guideline-adjusted diagnosis, treatment and follow-up were performed. RESULTS: We did not observe differences in prognostic factors (e.g., tumor thickness, ulceration) between the two cohorts. Both in ALM and non-ALM patients positive sentinel lymph node was a significant independent predictor for disease relapse and melanoma-specific death. However, disease relapse and melanoma-specific death rates did not significantly differ between ALM and non-ALM patients. An overall 5-year melanoma-specific survival of 82.5% and 81% was observed in ALM and non-ALM patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our data confirm that patients with ALM have no worse outcome than non-ALM patients when correcting for significant prognostic factors. Hence, the reportedly high rates of fatal ALM cases should not be ascribed to pathobiological differences between ALM and non-ALM but are most likely are a consequence of a delay in diagnosis and thus advanced stage of ALM.

Identification of death risk factors of primary melanoma based on the competing risk model.

OBJECTIVE: To preliminarily explore death risk factors in primary melanoma patients. METHOD: Competing risk model analysis was used using a large sample public cohort and Cox proportional hazard model was compared. RESULT: In the competing risk model analysis, age, gender, ethnicity, stage, site, TMN stage and metastases were the independent risk factors of single primary melanoma (SPM) death. T stage had a particularly important impact on SPM death. T2 stage had a 3.212 times greater risk of interest event than T1 stage [hazard ratio (HR)=3.212, 95%CI: 2.994-3.446], T3 stage was 5.747 times greater than that T1 stage (HR=5.747, 95%CI: 5.337-6.187) and T4 stage had a 7.086 times than T1 stage (HR=7.086, 95%CI: 6.514-7.708). Gender, ethnicity, stage, site, T stage and brain and liver metastases were the independent risk factors of multiple primary melanoma (MPM) death. When some groups had a very high death rate or the reference group had a very low death rate in competing events, the results of Cox proportional hazard model may not be as accurate as the results obtained by fine-Gray regression model. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and therapy, and prevention of tumor progression and metastases of primary melanoma patients are important measures to improve its prognosis and survival.

Outcome of combination therapy using BRAF and MEK inhibitors among Asian patients with advanced melanoma: An analysis of 112 cases.

BACKGROUND: As most clinical trials evaluating BRAF and MEK inhibitor combination therapy (B + Minh) have been conducted in Western countries, little is known about the effect of B + Minh among East Asian populations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from patients with advanced melanoma treated using B + Minh (either dabrafenib + trametinib or encorafenib + binimetinib) were retrospectively collected from 16 institutes in Japan. Response rates, adverse events, patterns of failure and survival were analysed. RESULTS: We analysed 112 of 144 collected patient records and, of these, 14 had acral/mucosal melanoma. The response rate for the entire cohort was 75.0%. There were no statistical differences in response rates between acral/mucosal and cutaneous melanomas (64.3% versus 76.5%), whereas previous treatment using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) did not affect response (72.7% versus 73.9%) to B + Minh, response to ICI after B + Minh was only 20%. Patients who achieved complete response had the best overall survival rates at 24 months (94.7%). Elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase levels and 3 or more metastatic sites were independently associated with survival. The most common relapse site was the brain (17.9%). More than half of the patients (58.8%) experienced grade III/IV pyrexia. CONCLUSION: B + Minh was effective among Japanese patients with melanoma, including those with acral/mucosal melanoma. Factors associated with survival were similar to previous Western studies. B + Minh response was not affected by the previous use of ICI; however, vigilance against brain metastasis during B + Minh therapy is required as the brain was our most commonly encountered relapse site.

Does acral lentiginous melanoma subtype account for differences in patterns of care in Black patients?

BACKGROUND: Melanoma-specific outcomes for Black patients are worse when compared to non-Hispanic white (NHW) patients. We sought to evaluate whether acral lentiginous melanoma, seen more commonly in Black patients, was associated with racial disparities in outcomes METHODS: The National Cancer Database was analyzed for major subtypes of stage I-IV melanoma diagnosed from 2004 to 2016. The association between Black race and (Siegel et al., Jan) 1 acral melanoma diagnosis and (Bradford et al., Apr) 2 receipt of major amputation for surgical management of melanoma was evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: 251,864 patients were included (1453 Black). Black patients had increased odds of acral melanoma (odds ratio [OR] = 27.6, 95% CI]: 24.4, 31.2) compared to NHW patients. Black patients still had higher odds ratios of major amputation across all stages after adjusting for acral histology and other potential confounders CONCLUSIONS: Increased prevalence of acral melanoma in Black patients does not fully account for increased receipt of major amputation.

Trends and projections in cutaneous melanoma death in the Netherlands from 1950 to 2045.

ABSTRACT: Child sun protection has recently been linked to the future disappearance of fatal melanoma in adults in successive generations. In the Netherlands, however, mortality rates from melanoma have increased gradually from the 1950s, with some indication of stabilisation since 2010, which may be compatible with a birth cohort effect by sun-protective measures and screening. To study the trajectories ahead a trend analysis was applied. Numbers of people with cutaneous melanoma as underlying cause of death from 1950 to 2018 and population data were derived from Statistics Netherlands. A graphical approach was used to explore trends in mortality by age, calendar period, and cohorts born in the successive periods of 1889 to 1979. Age-period-cohort modelling outcomes and population forecasts provided projections of mortality until 2045. Based on 24,151 cases of melanoma death (13,256 men, 10,895 women), age-standardised mortality rates were similar from 1950 to 1989 for both genders, and increased thereafter more in men. The age-curve patterns changed gradually towards higher death rates at older age, implying the existence of a birth cohort effect. The age-period-cohort models showed an increase in melanoma mortality rates in successive generations. For women, the birth cohort effect plateaued for generations born since the mid-1980s. The projected total mortality number was predicted to rise in the next 3 decades.It is concluded that a small future decline of mortality in younger generations can be expected in the Netherlands, but mortality is still rising for the total population.