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Radiation Oncology/Melanoma/Overview

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Malignant Melanoma Overview


Overview

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  • Lentigo maligna - type of melanoma in-situ, induced by long-term cumulative UV injury. Slow horizontal growth of atypical melanocytes, that are partially replacing the basal layer of epidermis, with no evidence of dermal invasion
  • Lentigo maligna melanoma (10-15%) - arise from lentigo maligna precursor lesion. Most benign behavior. Occupational sun exposure, frequently on head and neck. Typically in the elderly
  • Superficial spreading melanoma (70%) - often arise from a pigmented dysplastic nevus. Associated with intermittent sun exposure, most common on trunk and extremities. Initial radial growth over many years has 5% metastatic potential; following vertical growth has 35-80% metastatic potential
  • Nodular melanoma (10-15%) - most malignant type. Arises de novo. Early vertical growth.
  • Acral lentiginous melanoma (5%) - occur on palms, soles, and subungal areas. High incidence in blacks, asians, and hispanics. Commonly metastatic
  • Desmoplastic melanoma (1-3%) - pronounced neurotropism, and locally aggressive behavior. Frequent local recurrences, but lymph and distal mets are rare. Often amelanotic
  • mucosal melanoma (1%) - arise from mucosal epithelium of respiratory, GI and GU tracts
  • ocular melanoma (5%) - arise mostly in uvea or conjunctiva


  • NCDB; 1998 (1985-1994) PMID 9781962 -- "The National Cancer Data Base report on cutaneous and noncutaneous melanoma: a summary of 84,836 cases from the past decade. The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and the American Cancer Society." (Chang AE, Cancer. 1998 Oct 15;83(8):1664-78.)
    • Population study. 84,836 cases of melanom reported to National Cancer Data Base
    • Outcome: cutaneous 91.2%, ocular 5.2%, mucosal 1.3%, unknown primary 2.2%
    • Cutaneous: Stage 0 15%, Stage I 48%, Stage II 23%, Stage III 9%, Stage IV 5%
    • Ocular: uveal 85%, conjunctival 5%, other sites 10%
    • Mucosal: H&N 55%, female genital tract 18%, anal/rectal 24%, urinary tract 3%

Lentigo maligna

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  • Subtype of melanoma in-situ
  • Usually occurs in elderly patients, usually on the face
  • Slow horizontal growth. May progress to lentigo maligna melanoma
  • Treatment is surgery with negative margins. When surgery is undesirable, RT or topical Imiquimod may be used

Prevention

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Sunscreen:

  • Australia (1992-6) No PMID yet -- "Reduced Melanoma After Regular Sunscreen Use: Randomized Trial Follow-Up" (Green AC, J Clin Oncol online early release 6 December 2010)
    • 1621 pts (ages 25-75) randomized to daily vs discretionary use of sunscreen application to head and arms in combination with beta carotene or placebo supplements. Followed through 2006.
    • 11 new primary melanomas in the daily sunscreen group vs 22 in the discretionary group (HR=0.50). Reduction in invasive melanomas (3 vs 11) was substantial compared with preinvasive melanomas.
    • Conclusion: Melanoma may be preventable by regular sunscreen use in adults.

Adjuvant systemic therapy

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Interferon alfa 2b:

  • EORTC 18952, 2005 (1996-2000) - PMID 16198768 — "Post-surgery adjuvant therapy with intermediate doses of interferon alfa 2b versus observation in patients with stage IIb/III melanoma (EORTC 18952): randomised controlled trial." Eggermont AM et al. The Lancet 2005; 366:1189-1196.
    • 1388 pts. Thickness > 4mm, Stage IIb-III. Randomized to 1) 13 months or 2) 25 months of IFN-alfa-2b vs 3) observation.
    • Median f/u 4.6 yrs. For 25-month group, 7.2% increase in distant metastases free interval (S.S.) and 5.4% increase in OS (p=0.12); for 13-month, N.S. difference for DMFI and OS. 18% of pts went off study due to toxicity or refusal of treatment.
    • Conclusion: does not improve outcome.

Autoimmunity as a prognostic factor:

  • Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group, 2006 (1998-2004) — "Prognostic Significance of Autoimmunity during Treatment of Melanoma with Interferon." Gogas H et al. N Engl J Med Feb 16 2006; 354:709-718.
    • 200 pts (subgroup of a larger study) receiving interferon alfa-2b after surgery for Stage IIB, IIC, or III melanoma. Tested blood for the presence of antithyroid, antinuclear, anti-DNA, and anticardiolipin autoantibodies before and after treatment.
    • Median f/u 45 mo. Autoantibodies in 26% of pts. 108 of 148 pts without autoantibodies had a relapse (median RFS 16 mo) vs 7 of 52 pts with autoantibodies (median RFS not reached). Median time to detection of autoantibodies was after 3 mo of treatment.
    • Conclusion: development of autoimmunity was an independent prognostic factor for improved RFS and OS.

Supportive Care

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  • Denmark Psychoeducation (1991-2001)
    • Randomized. 262 patients, primary malignant melanoma, T1-4N1-2aM0. Arm 1) control vs. Arm 2) six weekly 2-hour sessions of psychoeducation. Replication study of UCLA study
    • 2007 PMID 18089864 -- "Survival after a psychoeducational intervention for patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma: a replication study." (Boesen EH, J Clin Oncol. 2007 Dec 20;25(36):5698-703.)
      • Outcome: No difference for OS or for recurrence; however, nonparticipants had 2x higher death rate
      • Conclusion: Psychoeducation doesn't increase survival
  • UCLA (1985-1986)
    • Randomized. 68 patients. Stage I-II melanoma, surgical treatment only (wide excision, some with LND). Arm 1) controls vs. Arm 2) 6 week structured psychiatric group intervention
    • 1993 PMID 8357293 -- "Malignant melanoma. Effects of an early structured psychiatric intervention, coping, and affective state on recurrence and survival 6 years later." (Fawzy FI, Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1993 Sep;50(9):681-9.)
      • Outcome: Death rate control 29% vs. intervention 9% (SS); recurrence rate 38% vs. 21%
      • Poor predictors: male, greater Breslow depth
      • Conclusion: Psychiatric intervention had beneficial impact on survival

Treatment toxicity

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Lymphedema after radiotherapy:
Using hypofractionated RT
At 5-yrs (needing compressive device, surgery, or medical treatment):

  • Cervical - 11%
  • Axillary - 30%
  • Groin - 39%
From PMID 16814209, 2006 — "Dispelling the myths surrounding radiotherapy for treatment of cutaneous melanoma." Stevens G et al. Lancet Oncol. 2006 Jul;7(7):575-83.


Review

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  • University of Florida; 2008 PMID 18260153 -- "Adjuvant radiotherapy for cutaneous melanoma." (Mendenhall WM, Cancer. 2008 Mar 15;112(6):1189-96.)
  • Moffitt Cancer Center; 2008 PMID 18596675 -- "Radiation therapy as primary and adjuvant treatment for local and regional melanoma." (Berk LB, Cancer Control. 2008 Jul;15(3):233-8.)
  • Auckland, New Zealand; 2006 PMID 16814209 -- "Dispelling the myths surrounding radiotherapy for treatment of cutaneous melanoma." (Stevens G, Lancet Oncol. 2006 Jul;7(7):575-83.)
  • Groningen, Netherlands; 2005 PMID 15707701 -- "Radiation therapy following lymph node dissection in melanoma patients: treatment, outcome and complications." (Bastiaannet E, Cancer Treat Rev. 2005 Feb;31(1):18-26. Epub 2004 Nov 18.)
  • MD Anderson; 2004 PMID 14768409 Full text — "Radiotherapy for cutaneous malignant melanoma: rationale and indications." Ballo MT et al. Oncology (Williston Park). 2004 Jan;18(1):99-107
    • Recommend RT to primary for: desmoplastic melanoma, positive margins, locally recurrent disease, Brewslow > 4 mm with ulceration or satellitosis
    • Recommend RT to nodes for: extracapsular extension, >= 4 involved nodes, lymph node >= 3 cm in size, cervical lymph node location, recurrent nodal disease, sentinel lymph node positive but dissection not planned
  • Dutch Melanoma Working Party, 1999 PMID 10465575 -- "Consensus on the management of malignant melanoma of the skin in The Netherlands. Dutch Melanoma Working Party." (Kroon BB, Melanoma Res 1999 Jun;9(3):207-12.)

RT Utilization

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  • CCORE Australia; 2004 PMID 15022299 -- "Estimation of an optimal radiotherapy utilization rate for melanoma: a review of the evidence." (Delaney G, Cancer. 2004 Mar 15;100(6):1293-301.)
    • Evidence-based estimate for proportion of patients who should receive RT
    • Estimate: 23%. New South Wales utilization 13%, American College of Surgeons utilization 6%, SEER data 1%
    • Conclusion: Shortfall in the use of RT in the treatment of melanoma

Quality of Care

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  • American College of Surgeons; 2009 (2004-2005) PMID 19826131 -- "National assessment of melanoma care using formally developed quality indicators." (Bilimoria KY, J Clin Oncol. 2009 Nov 10;27(32):5445-51. Epub 2009 Oct 13.)
    • Development of 26 valid quality indicators assessing structure, process, and outcome. 10 of these assessed at 1249 hospitals using NCDB registry data
    • Outcome: Adherence at patient level 12-96%, at hospital level 4-83%. Most hospitals adherent with <=50% of indicators
    • Conclusion: Considerable variation in quality of melanoma care in the U.S.
  • Rush Medical Center; 2008 PMID 18600380 -- "Adverse outcomes associated with noncompliance with melanoma treatment guidelines." (Erickson Foster J, Ann Surg Oncol. 2008 Sep;15(9):2395-402. Epub 2008 Jul 4.)
    • Retrospective. 327 patients with cN0 melanoma. Compliance with NCCN guidelines assessed. Mean F/U 4.2 years
    • Outcome: Margin non-compliance 28%, lymph node non-compliance 17%. Postop complications: margin compliance 10% vs noncompliant 30% (SS); lymph node compliant 13% vs. non-compliant 33% (SS). Locoregional recurrence: margin compliant 6% vs non-compliant 24% (SS); lymph node compliant 6% vs non-compliant 33% (SS). 10-year OS margin compliant 84% vs. noncompliant 73% (SS). 10-year OS lymph node compliant 91% vs. noncompliant 47% (SS)
    • Conclusion: Compliance with NCCN guidelines seems to improve outcome and decrease morbidity
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