An Overview of the Landscape Surrounding Melanoma
Source: OncLive, December 2023
This is a video synopsis/summary of an OncLive Insights® discussion involving Afreen Shariff, MD, MBBS; Javid Moslehi, MD; and Nikhil Khushalani, MD.
In the video, Dr Shariff introduces herself and the other panelists, Dr Moslehi and Dr Khushalani. Dr Khushalani provides an overview of melanoma treatment and epidemiology, noting that invasive melanoma incidence has been rising over the past 10 to 15 years. He states that in 2024 there will be an estimated 90,000 to 100,000 new cases of invasive melanoma, and closer to 200,000 cases when including melanoma in situ. Dr Khushalani warns that if sun exposure behaviors don’t change, melanoma could become the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in adults by 2040.
When asked about prognosis, Dr Khushalani explains it depends greatly on disease stage at diagnosis. The 5-year survival rate is over 98% for stage I, around 80% to 85% for stage II, 65% to 70% for stage III, and 30% to 35% for stage IV. He notes that stage IV survival has improved in the immune checkpoint and MAP kinase inhibitor therapy era.