van Akkooi, Alexander

Real-world health-related quality of life outcomes for patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma treated with adjuvant anti-PD1 therapy.

Abstract Background: While adjuvant therapy with anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (anti-PD1) for patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma has been shown to improve recurrence-free survival, the overall survival benefit remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the impact of adjuvant anti-PD1 therapy on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma METHODS: Data was used from two melanoma registries in Australia and the Netherlands. Patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma treated with adjuvant anti-PD1 who completed a baseline and at least one post-baseline HRQOL assessment were included. HRQOL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 [...]

March 13th, 2024|Tags: , , |Comments Off on Real-world health-related quality of life outcomes for patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma treated with adjuvant anti-PD1 therapy.

The difficulty with measuring the largest melanoma tumour diameter in sentinel lymph nodes.

Abstract Identification of sentinel node (SN) metastases can set the adjuvant systemic therapy indication for stage III melanoma patients. For stage IIIA patients, a 1.0 mm threshold for the largest SN tumour diameter is used. Therefore, uniform reproducible measurement of its size is crucial. At present, the number of deposits or their microanatomical sites are not part of the inclusion criteria for adjuvant treatment. The goal of the current study was to show examples of the difficulty of measuring SN melanoma tumour diameter and teach how it should be measured. Histopathological slides of SN-positive melanoma patients were retrieved using [...]

February 20th, 2024|Tags: , , |Comments Off on The difficulty with measuring the largest melanoma tumour diameter in sentinel lymph nodes.

Predicting Recurrence-Free and Overall Survival for Patients With Stage II Melanoma: The MIA Calculator.

Abstract Purpose: Improvements in recurrence-free survival (RFS) were demonstrated in two recent randomized trials for patients with sentinel node (SN)-negative stage IIB or IIC melanoma receiving adjuvant systemic therapy (pembrolizumab/nivolumab). However, adverse events also occurred. Accurate individualized prognostic estimates of RFS and overall survival (OS) would allow patients to more accurately weigh the risks and benefits of adjuvant therapy. Since the current American Joint Committee on Cancer eighth edition (AJCC-8) melanoma staging system focuses on melanoma-specific survival, we developed a multivariable risk prediction calculator that provides estimates of 5- and 10-year RFS and OS for these patients. Methods: Data were extracted [...]

February 5th, 2024|Comments Off on Predicting Recurrence-Free and Overall Survival for Patients With Stage II Melanoma: The MIA Calculator.

Prognostic and predictive value of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the EORTC 1325/KEYNOTE-054 phase III trial of pembrolizumab versus placebo in resected high-risk stage III melanoma.

Abstract Background: Pain is common in patients with cancer. The World Health Organisation recommends paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for mild pain and combined with other agents for moderate/severe pain. This study estimated associations of NSAIDs with recurrence-free survival (RFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and the incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in high-risk patients with resected melanoma in the EORTC 1325/KEYNOTE-054 phase III clinical trial. Patients and methods: Patients with AJCC7 stage IIIA, IIIB or IIIC resected melanoma were randomized to receive 200 mg of adjuvant pembrolizumab (N = 514) or placebo (N = 505) 3-weekly for one year [...]

February 1st, 2024|Tags: , , , , , |Comments Off on Prognostic and predictive value of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the EORTC 1325/KEYNOTE-054 phase III trial of pembrolizumab versus placebo in resected high-risk stage III melanoma.

Population-Based Validation of the MIA and MSKCC Tools for Predicting Sentinel Lymph Node Status.

Abstract Importance: Patients with melanoma are selected for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) based on their risk of a positive SLN. To improve selection, the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) developed predictive models, but the utility of these models remains to be tested. Objective: To determine the clinical utility of the MIA and MSKCC models. Design, setting, and participants: This was a population-based comparative effectiveness research study including 10 089 consecutive patients with cutaneous melanoma undergoing SLNB from the Swedish Melanoma Registry from January 2007 to December 2021. Data were analyzed from May to August 2023. [...]

January 10th, 2024|Comments Off on Population-Based Validation of the MIA and MSKCC Tools for Predicting Sentinel Lymph Node Status.

Prognostic significance of sentinel node tumor burden in Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Abstract Background A sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) provides important prognostic information in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). However, there are no histopathological prognostic factors known to identify high-risk patients amongst those with a positive sentinel lymph node (SLN). In this study we aim to assess the prognostic value of SLN tumor burden and the histological pattern of spread in SLN positive MCC. Methods The pathology specimen of all patients with MCC who underwent SLNB procedure between 2005 and 2022 was reviewed. SLN tumor burden was measured as the largest diameter of the tumor deposit. Additionally, 5 different [...]

January 1st, 2024|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Prognostic significance of sentinel node tumor burden in Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Real-world relapse-free survival data on adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy for patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent stage III melanoma.

Abstract We aimed to compare the relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients treated with adjuvant anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) therapy for a first diagnosis of stage III melanoma to patients treated after resection of the recurrences. Patients treated with adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy after complete resection of stage III melanoma between September 2018 and January 2021, were included. Depending on when adjuvant anti-PD-1 treatment was initiated, patients were divided over 2 cohorts: for the first diagnosis (cohort A) or for a second or subsequent diagnosis (cohort B) of stage III melanoma. Clinical data and RFS were compared between cohorts. 66 patients [...]

November 28th, 2023|Comments Off on Real-world relapse-free survival data on adjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy for patients with newly diagnosed and recurrent stage III melanoma.

Role of Concurrent Ultrasound Surveillance of Sentinel Node-Positive Node Fields in Melanoma Patients Having Routine Cross-Sectional Imaging.

Abstract Purpose: In sentinel node-positive (SN+ve) melanoma patients, active surveillance with regular ultrasound examination of the node field has become standard, rather than completion lymph node dissection (CLND). A proportion of these patients now receive adjuvant systemic therapy and have routine cross-sectional imaging (computed tomography [CT] or positron emission tomography [PET]/CT). The role of concurrent ultrasound (US) surveillance in these patients is unclear. The purpose of our study was to describe the modality of detection of nodal recurrence in SN+ve node fields. Methods: SN+ve melanoma patients who did not undergo CLND treated at a single institution from January 1, 2016 to [...]

November 15th, 2023|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Role of Concurrent Ultrasound Surveillance of Sentinel Node-Positive Node Fields in Melanoma Patients Having Routine Cross-Sectional Imaging.

European consensus-based interdisciplinary guideline for invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: Part 2. Treatment-Update 2023.

Abstract In order to update recommendations on treatment, supportive care, education, and follow-up of patients with invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), a multidisciplinary panel of experts from the European Association of Dermato-Oncology (EADO), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), and the European Organisation of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) was formed. Recommendations were based on an evidence-based literature review, guidelines, and expert consensus. Treatment recommendations are presented for common primary cSCC (low risk, high risk), [...]

November 1st, 2023|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on European consensus-based interdisciplinary guideline for invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: Part 2. Treatment-Update 2023.
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