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. 2024 Oct 19:17:3863-3873.
doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S477649. eCollection 2024.

Unraveling the Obesity Paradox: Exploring the Impact of Body Weight on Cutaneous Melanoma Prognosis in Asian Population

Po-Yu Chu  1 , Kuan-Po Lien  2   3 , Kuan-Cheng Chen  1 , Cheng-Yuan Li  4   5 , Jai-Sing Yang  6 , Tien-Hsiang Wang  1   7 , Yu-Jen Chiu  1   7   8
Affiliations

Unraveling the Obesity Paradox: Exploring the Impact of Body Weight on Cutaneous Melanoma Prognosis in Asian Population

Po-Yu Chu et al. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. .

Abstract

Background: Obesity has been identified as a significant risk factor for various diseases, including certain cancers; however, its association with melanoma remains a subject of debate. Despite the increasing incidence of cutaneous melanoma in Taiwan, there has been limited research on its correlation with obesity. This study aims to investigate the relationship between obesity and the prognosis of cutaneous melanoma in Taiwan.

Methods: Between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2022, 201 patients were diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma at our hospital, with 61.69% of them diagnosed with acral melanoma. Data on body weight, height, tumor stages and prognosis were collected and analyzed.

Results: The result revealed that older age (≥ 65 years old), male, advanced Breslow thickness stage (T3 and T4) and tumor ulceration were identified as risk factors for worse overall survival in both cutaneous melanoma and acral melanoma. In the adjusted multivariable analysis, being overweight was considered a protective factor in both cutaneous and acral melanoma.

Conclusion: Contrary to expectations, it was observed that melanoma patients with obesity exhibited better survival rates compared to those with normal or underweight status. Additionally, no significant differences were found between acral melanoma and non-acral melanoma subtypes regarding the impact of body weight on overall survival.

Keywords: melanoma; neoplasms; obesity; obesity paradox; survival analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Estimated overall survival of patients with cutaneous melanoma based on BMI category.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Estimated overall survival of patients with cutaneous melanoma based on whether BMI ≥25 (overweight and obesity).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Estimated overall survival of patients according to ALM and non-ALM group based on BMI≥25 (A) and BMI<25 (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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