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.

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Authors

Tarhini A, Ghate S, Ionescu-Ittu R, Shi S, Nakasato A, Ndife B, Laliberté F, Burne R, Duh MS