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Review
. 2016 May 26:8:109-22.
doi: 10.2147/CLEP.S99021. eCollection 2016.

Stage-specific survival and recurrence in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma in Europe - a systematic review of the literature

Fernanda Costa Svedman  1 , Demetris Pillas  2 , Aliki Taylor  2 , Moninder Kaur  2 , Ragnar Linder  3 , Johan Hansson  1
Affiliations
Review

Stage-specific survival and recurrence in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma in Europe - a systematic review of the literature

Fernanda Costa Svedman et al. Clin Epidemiol. .

Abstract

Background: Given the increasing incidence in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) and the recent changes in the treatment landscape, it is important to understand stage-specific overall and recurrence-free survival patterns in Europe. Despite publications such as EUROCARE-5, there is limited information on stage-specific survival for CMM in Europe.

Method: We carried out a systematic literature review to provide an up-to-date summary of stage-specific survival and recurrence-free survival patterns in patients with CMM in Europe. Studies were included if they were published in Medline during the past 12 years and included information on stage-specific survival and/or recurrence in CMM.

Results: Of the 8,749 studies identified, 26 studies were included, representing nine countries. Collectively, the studies covered a population of 152,422 patients and included data from 1978 to 2011. Randomized clinical trials and single-center observational studies comprised the most common study designs, including five large registry-based studies. Stage-specific information for survival and recurrence varied: 5-year overall survival: 95%-100% (stage I), 65%-92.8% (stage II), 41%-71% (stage III), and 9%-28% (stage IV); 5-year relapse-free survival was reported less frequently: 56% (stage II), and 28%-44% (stage III). Studies reporting survival by sentinel node (SN) status reported 5-year overall survival as 80%-95% for negative SN (stage I/II) and 35%-75% for positive SN (stage III) status; recurrence-free survival at 5 years: 76%-90% for negative and 35%-58% for positive SN status. Some studies included comparisons of survival by key patient sociodemographic characteristics, suggesting that these have a substantial influence on survival and recurrence estimates.

Conclusion: The studies identified in this review show large variations in stage-specific overall and recurrence-free survival by study type and by country. Owing to differing study designs and populations, it is difficult to make detailed comparisons. Large population-based studies that include stage-specific survival and recurrence in Europe are therefore important.

Keywords: Europe; cancer; cutaneous malignant melanoma; recurrence; stage; survival.

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