Treatment patterns and outcomes among patients diagnosed with unresectable stage III or IV melanoma in Europe: A retrospective, longitudinal survey (MELODY study)
European Journal of Cancer, 07/05/2012
Lebbe C et al. – Despite receiving first- and second-line treatment, most patients with advanced melanoma have short survival times and poor prognoses, reinforcing the need for new treatments.
Methods- Patients attending a participating site between 1st July 2005 and 30th June 2006 with 2months follow-up were eligible.
- Data were retrieved retrospectively from advanced melanoma diagnosis until 1st May 2008.
- Treatment data were collected by line of therapy and response and progression-free survival data by line of systemic treatment.
- Overall survival (OS) was evaluated for all treated patients.
- Among all patients screened, 776 were eligible for this analysis.
- Median OS from the date of advanced disease diagnosis was 16.4months.
- After excluding patients diagnosed prior to 1st July 2005 to account for any bias resulting from patient selection, the 12-month survival rate and median OS from the start date of second-line treatment was 28.8% and 6.8months, respectively.
- Survival was lower in patients with brain metastases, elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels and more advanced disease.
- Rates of complete/partial tumour response were 15% and 7% in patients treated with first- and second-line systemic therapy, respectively.
