title: Melanoma sentinel node biopsy and prediction models for relapse and overall survival.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To optimise predictive models for sentinal node biopsy (SNB) positivity, relapse and survival, using clinico-pathological characteristics and osteopontin gene expression in primary melanomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparison of the clinico-pathological characteristics of SNB positive and negative cases was carried out in 561 melanoma patients. In 199 patients, gene expression in formalin-fixed primary tumours was studied using Illumina's DASL assay. A cross validation approach was used to test prognostic predictive models and receiver operating characteristic curves were produced.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independent predictors of SNB positivity were Breslow thickness, mitotic count and tumour site. Osteopontin expression best predicted SNB positivity (P=2.4 × 10⁻⁷), remaining significant in multivariable analysis. Osteopontin expression, combined with thickness, mitotic count and site, gave the best area under the curve (AUC) to predict SNB positivity (72.6%). Independent predictors of relapse-free survival were SNB status, thickness, site, ulceration and vessel invasion, whereas only SNB status and thickness predicted overall survival. Using clinico-pathological features (thickness, mitotic count, ulceration, vessel invasion, site, age and sex) gave a better AUC to predict relapse (71.0%) and survival (70.0%) than SNB status alone (57.0, 55.0%). In patients with gene expression data, the SNB status combined with the clinico-pathological features produced the best prediction of relapse (72.7%) and survival (69.0%), which was not increased further with osteopontin expression (72.7, 68.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of these models should be tested in other data sets in order to improve predictive and prognostic data for patients.
authors.affiliation: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, St James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS97TF, UK. a.mitra@leeds.ac.uk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kissin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Layer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smallwood
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ottensmeier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peach
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Iles
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nsengimana
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Newton-Bishop
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor