title: Treatment patterns and outcomes among patients diagnosed with unresectable stage III or IV melanoma in Europe: a retrospective, longitudinal survey (MELODY study).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MELanoma treatment patterns and Outcomes among patients with unresectable stage III or stage IV Disease: a retrospective longitudinal surveY (MELODY), the first multicountry, observational survey in patients with advanced melanoma, aimed to quantify the impact of existing treatment strategies by capturing information on treatment patterns and clinical outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients attending a participating site between 1st July 2005 and 30th June 2006 with ≥2 months follow-up were eligible. Data were retrieved retrospectively from advanced melanoma diagnosis until 1st May 2008. Treatment data were collected by line of therapy and response and progression-free survival data by line of systemic treatment. Overall survival (OS) was evaluated for all treated patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among all patients screened, 776 were eligible for this analysis. Median OS from the date of advanced disease diagnosis was 16.4 months. After excluding patients diagnosed prior to 1st July 2005 to account for any bias resulting from patient selection, the 12-month survival rate and median OS from the start date of second-line treatment was 28.8% and 6.8 months, respectively. Survival was lower in patients with brain metastases, elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels and more advanced disease. Rates of complete/partial tumour response were 15% and 7% in patients treated with first- and second-line systemic therapy, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite receiving first- and second-line treatment, most patients with advanced melanoma have short survival times and poor prognoses, reinforcing the need for new treatments.
authors: Department of Dermatology, APHP U976, Paris 7 Diderot University, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France. celeste.lebbe@sls.aphp.fr
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Lebbe
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Lorigan
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Ascierto
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Testori
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Bédane
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Middleton
authors: M
authors: M
authors: van Baardewijk
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Konto
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Dueymes
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Maio
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome