BACKGROUND: Secondary lymphedema is a debilitating, chronic, progressive condition that commonly occurs after the treatment of breast cancer. The purpose of the current study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the oncology-related literature excluding breast cancer to derive estimates of lymphedema incidence and to identify potential risk factors among various malignancies. METHODS: The authors systematically reviewed 3 major medical indices (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library databases, and Scopus) to identify studies that included a prospective assessment of lymphedema after cancer treatment. Studies were categorized according to malignancy, and data included treatment, complications, lymphedema measurement criteria, lymphedema incidence, and followup interval. A quality assessment of individual studies was performed using established criteria for systematic reviews. Bayesian meta-analytic techniques were applied to derive summary estimates when sufficient data were available. RESULTS: A total of 47 studies (7779 cancer survivors) met inclusion criteria: melanoma (n ¼ 15), gynecologic malignancies (n ¼ 22), genitourinary cancers (n ¼ 8), head/neck cancers (n ¼ 1), and sarcomas (n ¼ 1). The overall incidence of lymphedema was 15.5% and varied by malignancy (P < .001): melanoma, 16% (upper extremity, 5%; lower extremity, 28%); gynecologic, 20%; genitourinary, 10%; head/neck, 4%; and sarcoma, 30%. Increased lymphedema risk was also noted for patients undergoing pelvic dissections (22%) and radiation therapy (31%). Objective measurement methods and longer follow-up were both associated with increased lymphedema incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphedema is a common condition affecting cancer survivors with various malignancies. The incidence of lymphedema is related to the type and extent of treatment, anatomic location, heterogeneity of assessment methods, and length of follow-up. Cancer 2010;116:5138-49.

We assessed the impact of lymphoedema (defined as >10% limb volume change) on quality of life (QOL), ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), and coping in 277 melanoma patients. Limb volume was measured prospectively, preoperatively, and every 3–6 months for 18 months postoperatively using a perometer. Three questionnaires were administered to measure quality of life, coping and impact on activities of daily living. Statistical analyses were conducted using longitudinal logistic regression models. At 18 months, 31% of patients with upper-extremity nodal basin treatment and 40% of lower extremity nodal basin treatment patients had lymphoedema. Patients with lower-extremity lymphoedema reported lower QOL scores than those with upper-extremity lymphoedema. Over 18 months, both groups with mild and moderate lymphoedema showed improvement in coping (odds ratio [OR]: 7.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.5–14.5) and performance of ADLs (OR: 6.8, CI: 3.2–14.3). Over the course of 18 months, males were found to have poorer coping scores than females (OR: 2.4, CI: 1.2–5.1). Lymphoedema was associated with improvement in coping over time (p=0.08) and a higher reported interference with ADLs (OR: 2.5, CI: 1.3–5.0), primarily household tasks and sleep. Patient education about lymphoedema at the time of surgical consent may improve self-efficacy and coping ability. Effective management of lymphoedema may improve patient QOL and reduce interference with ADLs.

Aims We sought to prospectively assess limb volume change (LVC) and associated symptoms in patients with melanoma undergoing sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and/or therapeutic lymph node dissection (TLND). Methods Limb volume was measured pre-operatively and post-operatively at 6 and 12 months using a perometer (JUZO 1000M). LVC calculated and used to define 3 groups: <5%, 5-10%, and >10%. A 19-item lymphedema symptom questionnaire was administered at baseline, 6-month and 12-months. Results One hundred eighty-two patients were enrolled. Twelve months after axillary surgery, 9% had LVC 5-10%, and 13% had LVC >10%. Twelve months after inguino-femoral surgery, 10% had LVC 5-10%, and 13% had LVC >10%. There was a significant 7- to 9-fold increase in symptoms for patients with LVC greater than >10% compared to those with LVC <5% (P<.05). By multivariate analysis, TLND versus SLN biopsy (odds ratio [OR] = 3.18 P<0.01) and borderline significance for lower-versus upper-extremity procedures (OR=1.72; P=0.07) were associated with LVC >5%. Conclusion LVC greater than 5% is common at 12 months following nodal surgery for melanoma and is associated with symptoms. Informed consent for melanoma patients undergoing lymph node surgery should include a discussion of the risks of post-operative lymphedema.

Conditional survival estimates are more optimistic and realistic for cancer survivors than traditional survival estimates over time. For node-positive melanoma survivors, 5-year conditional DFS and DSS improve significantly over time. These estimates are critical to treatment decisions and non-treatment-related planning for both clinicians and patients.

TPS9602 Background: Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis is commonly used to reduce surgical site infections (SSIs). However, the rate of SSIs following surgical procedures classified as clean is only 2-3%. Overuse of antibiotics is associated with several potential adverse effects, including dysregulation of the gut microbiome. Disruption of the composition and function of the native gut microbiota, referred to as dysbiosis, has been implicated in a number of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, as well as gastrointestinal (GI) and non-GI cancers. Recent studies have demonstrated that antibiotics have a profound and persistent effect on the gut microbiota, as evidenced by diminished overall abundance and diversity, as well as alteration of community composition that includes a decreased relative abundance of bacteria in the Ruminococcaceae family. In melanoma, diversity of gut microbiota and relative abundance of Ruminococaceae have been linked to improved survival and enhanced response following immune checkpoint blockade. In this study, we seek to determine the impact of preoperative prophylactic antibiotic use on the gut microbiome in patients following surgery for stage I or II melanoma. Methods: In this non-comparative randomized pilot trial, the impact of prophylactic antibiotic use at the time of surgical intervention on gut microbiome diversity and composition will be studied. Patients diagnosed with clinical stage I or II melanoma undergoing wide excision with or without lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy are randomized 1:1 to either receive preoperative cefazolin or no preoperative antibiotics. Stool samples and peripheral blood are collected before surgery, the day of surgery (optional), on post-operative day 3 (optional), and 2 weeks and 3 months following surgery. The primary endpoint for the study is change in microbiome alpha diversity at 2 weeks following surgery. Secondary endpoints are change in relative abundance of microbes at 2 weeks and 3 months after surgery and SSI rates according to whether or not prophylactic antibiotics were administered at time of surgery. Exclusion criteria include recent antibiotic use (within 3 months), allergy to beta-lactam or cephalosporin antibiotics, increased risk of infection due to medical comorbidity or use of immunosuppressive medication. Enrollment began in October 2021. As of January 2022, 22 of 30 patients have been accrued to ensure complete sample collection for 20 patients. Study findings may inform a larger trial evaluating interventions to mitigate antibiotic impact. Clinical trial information: NCT04875728.