OBJECTIVE: To evaluate treatment strategies and survival of patients with unresectable stage IIIc or IV melanoma since the 2012 introduction of new drugs in the Netherlands. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHOD: We analysed data from the Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry (DMTR) regarding patients diagnosed with unresectable stage IIIc or IV melanoma in the period of 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2015. We estimated survival times using the Kaplan-Meier method. The relationship between year of diagnosis and survival was estimated using Cox regression analysis, adjusted for age, WHO performance status, lactate dehydrogenase values, stage, brain metastases and distant metastases. RESULTS: Out of 2,768 registered patients, approximately three-quarters received systemic therapy. This treatment was subject to change every year. Median survival was 10.7 months (95% CI: 9.6-13.2) in 2012 and 13.8 months (95% CI: 11.8-15.6) in 2015. Median survival for patients receiving systemic therapy was 17.1 months in 2015. 2-year survival in this period increased from 23% to 40%. Patients diagnosed in 2015 had better survival than patients of 2014 (hazard ratio (HR) 0.82; 95% CI: 0.73-0.93). This was also true for patients receiving systemic therapy (HR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.69-0.91). CONCLUSION: Fast availability of new drugs, initiated by the then minister of VWS (health, welfare and sport) and the professional organisation, has thoroughly changed treatment of unresectable stage IIIc and IV melanoma. Data from the DMTR indicate safe use of these new drugs in daily practice and improved survival of advanced-melanoma patients in recent years.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate treatment strategies and survival of patients with unresectable stage IIIc or IV melanoma since the 2012 introduction of new drugs in the Netherlands. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHOD: We analysed data from the Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry (DMTR) regarding patients diagnosed with unresectable stage IIIc or IV melanoma in the period of 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2015. We estimated survival times using the Kaplan-Meier method. The relationship between year of diagnosis and survival was estimated using Cox regression analysis, adjusted for age, WHO performance status, lactate dehydrogenase values, stage, brain metastases and distant metastases. RESULTS: Out of 2,768 registered patients, approximately three-quarters received systemic therapy. This treatment was subject to change every year. Median survival was 10.7 months (95% CI: 9.6-13.2) in 2012 and 13.8 months (95% CI: 11.8-15.6) in 2015. Median survival for patients receiving systemic therapy was 17.1 months in 2015. 2-year survival in this period increased from 23% to 40%. Patients diagnosed in 2015 had better survival than patients of 2014 (hazard ratio (HR) 0.82; 95% CI: 0.73-0.93). This was also true for patients receiving systemic therapy (HR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.69-0.91). CONCLUSION: Fast availability of new drugs, initiated by the then minister of VWS (health, welfare and sport) and the professional organisation, has thoroughly changed treatment of unresectable stage IIIc and IV melanoma. Data from the DMTR indicate safe use of these new drugs in daily practice and improved survival of advanced-melanomapatients in recent years.
Authors: Stephanie A Blankenstein; Johannes J Bonenkamp; Maureen J B Aarts; Franchette W P J van den Berkmortel; Christian U Blank; Willeke A M Blokx; Marye J Boers-Sonderen; Alfons J M van den Eertwegh; Margreet G Franken; Jan Willem B de Groot; John B A G Haanen; Geke A P Hospers; Ellen W Kapiteijn; Olivier J van Not; Djura Piersma; Rozemarijn S van Rijn; Karijn P M Suijkerbuijk; Astrid A M van der Veldt; Gerard Vreugdenhil; Hans M Westgeest; Michel W J M Wouters; Alexander C J van Akkooi Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2022-10-06 Impact factor: 4.339
Authors: Brenda Leeneman; Carin A Uyl-de Groot; Maureen J B Aarts; Alexander C J van Akkooi; Franchette W P J van den Berkmortel; Alfons J M van den Eertwegh; Jan Willem B de Groot; Karin H Herbschleb; Jacobus J M van der Hoeven; Geke A P Hospers; Ellen Kapiteijn; Djura Piersma; Rozemarijn S van Rijn; Karijn P M Suijkerbuijk; Albert J Ten Tije; Astrid A M van der Veldt; Gerard Vreugdenhil; Michel W J M Wouters; John B A G Haanen; Margreet G Franken Journal: Cancers (Basel) Date: 2020-04-18 Impact factor: 6.639
Authors: Nadia C W Kamminga; Astrid A M van der Veldt; Margot C W Joosen; Karlijn de Joode; Arjen Joosse; Dirk J Grünhagen; Tamar E C Nijsten; Marlies Wakkee; Marjolein Lugtenberg Journal: Br J Dermatol Date: 2022-06-14 Impact factor: 11.113