No abstract

Male gender is associated with a greater incidence of unfavorable primary tumor characteristics without an increased risk for nodal metastasis. Nonetheless, gender is an independent factor affecting survival.

This is the largest study to evaluate FN SLN results in melanoma, with a FN rate of 10.8%. FN results are associated with greater patient age, lower mean thickness, less frequent LVI, and greater risk of LITR. However, survival of patients with FN SLN is not statistically worse than that of patients with TP SLN.

In locally advanced extremity melanoma treated with HILP, the addition of TNF-alpha to melphalan did not demonstrate a significant enhancement of short-term response rates over melphalan alone by the 3-month follow-up, and TNF-alpha plus melphalan was associated with a higher complication rate.

The Sunbelt Melanoma Trial is an ongoing multicenter prospective randomized trial that involves 79 centers and over 3600 patients from across the United States and Canada. This is one of the first large randomized studies to incorporate molecular staging using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). While the results related to the primary endpoints of the study are not yet available, several analyses have shed light on many aspects of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and melanoma prognostic factors. In particular, we have developed a practical definition of sentinel nodes based on the degree of radioactivity. We have established the low rate of postoperative complications associated with SLN biopsy as compared to complete lymph node dissection. We have identified factors that predict the presence of SLN metastases. In contrast, we have been unable to identify factors that indicate a low risk of non-sentinel node metastases in patients with a positive sentinel node, suggesting that completion lymphadenectomy is appropriate for such patients. We have further established the value of identifying interval or in-transit sentinel nodes, which can be the only site of nodal metastasis. We have evaluated the particular challenges associated with SLN biopsy of head and neck melanomas, have evaluated the patterns of early recurrence, and have identified an interesting correlation between increasing patient age and a number of prognostic factors. Future analyses will evaluate the benefit of early therapeutic lymphadenectomy and early institution of adjuvant interferon alfa-2b therapy, as well as the validity of molecular staging.

This represents one of the largest series examining long-term outcomes after TPIAT. This operation produces durable pain relief and improvement in QOL parameters. Insulin independence rates decline over time, but most patients maintain stable glycemic control.

Because margins of excision greater than 2 cm do not improve LR, DFS, or OS compared to a margin of 2 cm or less, a 2-cm margin of excision is adequate for patients with thick melanoma. Because nodal status is a significant prognostic factor in these patients, staging by sentinel node biopsy should be considered in patients with thick melanomas and clinically negative nodal basins to allow proper entry and stratification in adjuvant therapy trials.

The initial biopsy specimens from 50 patients with high-grade invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder were evaluated for depth of invasion. Stages were assigned according to the following system: T1A, invasion of connective tissue superficial to the level of the muscularis mucosae; T1B, invasion to the level of the muscularis mucosae; T1C, invasion through the level of the muscularis mucosae but superficial to the muscularis propria; and B, invasion into the muscularis propria. Follow-up from the Yale Tumor Registry at a median time of 4.6 years showed that tumors invasive to levels T1A and T1B had a 75% 5-year survival, but tumors invasive through the level of the muscularis mucosae but apparently superficial to the muscularis propria (level T1C) had an 11% 5-year survival, which was comparable with the survival of patients with tumors invasive of the muscularis propria. This study suggests the prognostic importance of assessing the depth of invasion in initial biopsy specimens, even when the specimens lack a muscularis propria.