title: Relationship between disease-free interval and survival in patients with recurrent melanoma.
abstract: A total of 2468 patients with recurrent melanoma were subdivided on the basis of disease-free interval: group 1 had recurrences within 1 year (n = 810), group 2 at years 1 to 3 (n = 1001), group 3 at years 3 to 5 (n = 363), group 4 at years 5 to 10 (n = 329), and group 5 after 10 years (n = 145). Ten-year survivals were 21%, 23%, 25%, 28%, and 35%, respectively. Patients who had recurrences within 1 year had a decreased median survival compared with those who had later recurrences, although the differences were not clinically significant (only 6 to 8 months). Survival was improved for the few patients who had recurrences longer than 10 years from diagnosis. However, for the majority of patients, who had recurrences between 1 and 10 years, the disease-free interval did not predict subsequent survival. The data support the hypothesis that malignant cells can exist in a state of relative quiescence for extended periods. Once disease reactivation occurs, however, the subsequent survival is relatively predictable and is independent of the initial period of tumor dormancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Crowley
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Seigler
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors