The nature of melanoma. A critical review

Abstract

The main object of this review was to examine the various histogenetic types of melanoma in order to determine their nature. Nodular melanoma and superficial spreading melanoma differ in the more rapid growth of the former. For tumors of equal depth of invasion in patients of the same sex, the prognoses are similar. Clinical features with prognostic significance are sex, age, and site of the lesion. Women have a decided superiority in survival up to the age of about 50 years when their superiority declines. Survival rates for men also decline after the age of 50 years but to a lesser degree. Melanomas of the extremities have a better prognosis than melanomas of the axial regions. The histological feature of most prognostic significance is depth of invasion (thickness). Ulceration is partly bound to thickness of the lesion, but has an augmentative effect of its own which is related to rate of growth. Thin lesions with or without regression are often associated with meta‐stases. Melanomas arising in Hutchinson's melanotic freckle have a better prognosis than nodular or superficial spreading melanoma but there has not been any series large enough for definitive markers with prognostic significance lo be determined. A similar state pertains in palmar, plantar and subungual melanomas. The initial surgical approach in nodular and superficial melanoma should be based upon the thickness of the tumour, site of the tumour, and sex of the patient. The current classification of malignant melanoma is unsatisfactory. Melanoma arising in Hutchinson's melanotic freckle seems to be a distinct entity. Melanomas of other histogenetic types would be best classified according to site.

Acral with melanoma: A review of 185 patients identification of prognostic variables

“…McGovern [2] has suggested that melanomas of histogenetic types other than superficial spreading, nodular, and lentigo maligna should be classified according to site rather than according to specific histology. There are several observations from the present series, supported in related literature, which suggest that acral melanomas should be treated as a clinical entity distinct from other extremity melanomas.…”

“…The distribution of subungual lesions was: thumb (17), index finger (3), long finger (5), ring finger (4), fifth finger (l), great toe (20), finger not specified (l), toe not specified (2). Eighty percent presented as stage I (local disease), 19% as stage I1 (lymph node metastases), and 1% as stage 111 (distant metastases).…”

The Clinical Significance of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Microscopic Satellites in Acral Melanoma in a Korean Population

“…Acral melanoma has relatively recently been defined as a melanoma of glabrous skin, which is the non-hair-bearing skin characteristic of the palmar, plantar and subungual regions and especially the dorsal area of the hand and the foot8,9. This is the most common subtype of cutaneous malignant melanoma in Asians, and this subtype of melanoma comprises a larger proportion in Asians in comparison to non-Asians.…”

Study of Local Hydrodynamic Environment in Cell-Substrate Adhesion Using Side-View μPIV Technology

“…Therefore, it is of great interest to understand the mechanisms behind metastasis and develop better therapeutic targets [5], [12]–[17]. Melanoma, one type of tumor cells (TCs), is responsible for skin cancer which widely threatens human lives [18], [19]. Previous studies have indicated that human melanoma cells actively recruit leukocytes, especially neutrophils (PMNs), to adhere to the vascular endothelial cells (ECs) under high shear flow conditions, because the receptor-ligand bonds between melanoma cells and ECs were insufficient to enable initial capture of melanoma cells on vessel walls [20]–[26].…”