Predictors of melanoma prognosis

These three studies were:

• A retrospective study using the VMS database examined the influence of various primary tumour characteristics in advanced metastatic melanoma
• Prospective cohort study looked at the role of BRAF mutations
• Prospective study using the VMS database examined prognosis for patients with cutaneous (skin) metastases

The retrospective study looking at the influence of various primary tumour characteristics in patients diagnosed with stage IV melanoma between 2003 and 2012, who had a median follow-up of five years, found that primary tumour thickness was the most significant prognostic factor in stage IV melanoma.

In the second study, the presence of a BRAF mutation in patients with primary stage I-III cutaneous melanomas did not necessarily drive more rapid tumour growth but was associated with poorer melanoma-specific survival in patients with early-stage disease. In the third study, it was found that patients presenting with regional cutaneous metastases have a much better prognosis than those with distant cutaneous metastases.