Prognostic variables for patients with stage III malignant melanoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prognostic factors for patients with stage III malignant melanoma and to identify patients at high risk of developing recurrent disease who may benefit from adjuvant therapy.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Specialist hospital, USA.


METHODS
130 patients with stage III malignant melanoma (according to the TNM classification), treated at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute between 1970 and 1992.


METHODS
Survival and prognostic factors on multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
Four factors were independent prognostic indicators for patients with stage III malignant melanoma: age >51 years (p = 0.008), >3 involved lymph nodes, (p = 0.03), the site of the primary tumour on head or trunk, (p = 0.007), and the presence of palpable lymph nodes (p = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
These prognostic factors help us to stratify patients into low and high-risk groups. High-risk patients may benefit from more aggressive adjuvant therapy in future trials of treatment of melanoma.
Messaris
G E
GE
A'Propaedeutic Surgical Clinic, Laboratory of Surgical Research, Hippokrateio Hospital, Athens, Greece. amessari@compulink.gr
Konstadoulakis
M M
MM
Ricaniadis
N
N
Leandros
E
E
Androulakis
G
G
Karakousis
P C
PC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate