Screening for reducing morbidity and mortality in malignant melanoma

Abstract

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews lasted three years; outcomes were measured at the screening clinics during this time. There was no further follow-up. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether it was possible to conduct a larger trial, which was stopped by lack of funding. The first study was funded by the National Cancer Institute (US); the second, by Queensland Cancer Fund and Queensland Health (Australia). Key results There was no information from either study on the e ects of screening on total deaths, overdiagnosis from screening, or participant quality of life. The following outcomes were also not reported: deaths from skin cancer and false-positive/-negative rates (i.e. diagnosing a skin lesion as a melanoma when it is not present/not recognising a melanoma when it is present). Thus, we do not know whether screening for malignant melanoma results in any benefit, or whether such a possible benefit would be outweighed by harms of screening. General adult population screening for malignant melanoma is not supported or refuted by evidence from well-designed trials up to May 2018 and therefore does not fulfil accepted criteria for implementing screening programmes. Reliability of the evidence We could not assess the reliability of the evidence for our primary outcomes as they were not assessed.

Disease mapping of early- and late-stage cancer to monitor inequalities in early detection: a study of cutaneous malignant melanoma

“…The most common histologic subtype of CMM, superficial spreading melanoma, is relatively slow-growing and has an in situ growth phase before becoming invasive, whereas the second most common type, nodular melanoma, is fast-growing and usually invasive at diagnosis [40]. Elsewhere, screening programs for CMM in the general population have implied rising incidences, but not turned out to be efficient, in terms of reducing mortality, for example in Germany [41] and other countries [42]. The marked association between elevated stage I CMM diagnosis and lower small-area deprivation shown in our results were probably affected by disparities in peoples' awareness and demand on health.…”

Accessing Mole-Scanning through Community Pharmacy: A Pilot Service in Collaboration with Dermatology Specialists

“…Although recommendations to screen higher-risk individuals are made in some countries (Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK [ 3 ]) national melanoma screening programs are not widely recommended (Germany, and pilots in Australia and the US [ 4 , 5 ]); and a recent Cochrane review (2019) determined that general adult screening of melanoma was not refuted by evidence [ 6 ]. Instead, the UK pursues education programs to raise awareness of signs and symptoms, risk factors and the need to self-check to promote earlier detection and thus reduce mortality.…”

ZNF750 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of melanoma cells through modulating the Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway

“…In recent decades, the morbidity and mortality of malignant melanoma have increased significantly, with a high degree of malignancy [14]. It has been reported that uveal melanoma showed similar prognosis for Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian, and African American [15].…”