Stage III melanoma incidence and impact of transitioning to the 8th AJCC staging system: a US population-based study
Future Oncology. 2019 Feb;15(4):359-370
AIM:
To estimate incidence of stage III melanoma using the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging, 7th and 8th edition.
PATIENTS & METHODS:
The SEER US cancer registry was analyzed (2010-2014). AJCC7 stages were recorded in the data; AJCC8 stages were inferred.
RESULTS:
Of 106,195 melanoma patients, 7669 and 7342 had stage III melanoma by AJCC7 and AJCC8, respectively (95% overlap). Nearly 30% of patients with AJCC7 stage III melanoma were reclassified in a higher stage III group by AJCC8 versus 7% in lower stage group. Regardless of the AJCC edition, incidence of stage III melanoma has increased from 2010 to 2014 both overall and within each stage III group.
CONCLUSION:
Providing appropriate management to this growing population of high-risk patients is a priority.
Authors
Tarhini A, Ghate S, Ionescu-Ittu R, Shi S, Nakasato A, Ndife B, Laliberté F, Burne R, Duh MS