Hazard rates and implications for follow-up schedules of melanoma patients with 0.8–1.0 mm tumor thickness: An analysis of the German Central Malignant Melanoma Registry in 12,132 patients

Aebischer V, Nanz L, Amaral T, Berking C, Eigentler T, Flatz L, Forschner A, Gesierich A, Sunderkötter C, Wollina U, Garbe C, Leiter U (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

EJC Skin Cancer Elsevier

Book Volume: 3

Article Number: 100726

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcskn.2025.100726

Abstract

Background: Understanding the risk of recurrence is crucial for planning of follow-up in cutaneous melanoma patients. Objectives: This study aims to analyze time-dependent hazard rates (HR) for recurrences concerning follow-up recommendations for thin melanomas. Methods: 12,132 patients in stages IA/IB were recorded by the German-Central-Malignant-Melanoma-Registry in 2000–2010. Survival rates, based on Kaplan-Meier estimates, and HR were calculated comparing three groups of tumor thickness (TTH). Results: Recurrences were recorded in 916/12,132 patients (7.6 %), in 3.7 % with TTH < 0.8 mm, 9.8 % with TTH 0.8–1.0 mm and 15.8 % with TTH > 1.0–2.0 mm. Median follow-up-time was 48.0 months (IQR: 23.0;78.0) in tumors < 0.8 mm; 54.0 months (25.0;84.0) in tumors of 0.8–1.0 mm, 61.0 months (30.0;91.0) in tumors of 1.01–2.0 mm. Ten-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 91.5 % (95 %-CI: 90.1 %;92.9 %) in tumors with TTH < 0.8 mm; 81.9 % (79.0 %;84.8 %) with TTH 0.8–1.0 mm and 74.0 % (71.5 %;76.6 %) with TTH 1.01–2.0 mm. In years 1–5, HR for recurrences showed levels of ≤ 1:1111 per year for TTH < 0.8 mm, undulating but higher HR up to 1:313 in TTH of 0.8–1.0 mm and up to 1:222 in TTH of ≥ 1.01 mm. Limitations: Few information can be given beyond a follow-up of 10 years. Conclusion: Low HR were found for stage IA patients and TTH < 0.8 mm, therefore reduced surveillance intervals seem appropriate. Melanoma with a TTH of 0.8–1.0 mm showed higher HR rates, similar to stage IB patients. These data indicate that these patients may need more intensive follow-up in the first years.

Authors with CRIS profile

Carola Berking Lehrstuhl für Haut- und Geschlechtskrankheiten

Involved external institutions

Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg (MLU)

Germany (DE) Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen

Germany (DE) Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Germany (DE) Universitätsklinikum Würzburg

Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Aebischer, V., Nanz, L., Amaral, T., Berking, C., Eigentler, T., Flatz, L.,... Leiter, U. (2025). Hazard rates and implications for follow-up schedules of melanoma patients with 0.8–1.0 mm tumor thickness: An analysis of the German Central Malignant Melanoma Registry in 12,132 patients. EJC Skin Cancer, 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejcskn.2025.100726

MLA:

Aebischer, Valentin, et al. "Hazard rates and implications for follow-up schedules of melanoma patients with 0.8–1.0 mm tumor thickness: An analysis of the German Central Malignant Melanoma Registry in 12,132 patients." EJC Skin Cancer 3 (2025).