title: Burden of illness for metastatic melanoma in Canada, 2011-2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Detailed epidemiology for patients with advanced metastatic melanoma in Canada is not well characterized. We conducted an analysis of patients with this disease in the province of Ontario, with the aim being to study the presentation, disease characteristics and course, and treatment patterns for malignant melanoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this Canadian observational prospective and retrospective study of patients with malignant melanoma, we used data collected in the Canadian Melanoma Research Network (cmrn) Patient Registry. We identified patients who were seen at 1 of 3 cancer treatment centres between April 2011 and 30 April 2013. Patient data from 2011 and 2012 were collected retrospectively using chart records and existing registry data. Starting January 2013, data were collected prospectively. Variables investigated included age, sex, initial stage, histology, mutation type, time to recurrence, sites of metastases, resectability, and previous therapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A cohort of 810 patients with melanoma was identified from the cmrn registry. Mean age was 58.7 years, and most patients were men (60% vs. 40%). Factors affecting survival included unresectable or metastatic melanoma, initial stage at diagnosis, presence of brain metastasis, andBRAFmutation status. The proportion of surviving patients decreased with higher initial disease stages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using registry data, we were able to determine the detailed epidemiology of patients with melanoma in the Canadian province of Ontario, validating the comprehensive and detailed information that can be obtained from registry data.
authors.affiliation: London Regional Cancer Program, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.affiliation: Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Petrella
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Joshua
authors.affiliation: Western University, London, ON.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamou
authors.affiliation: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Dorval, QC.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thabane
authors.affiliation: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Dorval, QC.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vantyghem
authors.affiliation: Western University, London, ON.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gwadry-Sridhar
keywords: Metastatic melanoma; burden of disease; cancer registries; epidemiology