Evidence Lacking on Best Surveillance Strategies for Melanoma
Source: Cancer Therapy Advisor, April 2024
Results of a systematic review provide insights that may help guide surveillance in patients with melanoma, but the results also suggest more data are needed to identify optimal surveillance strategies, according to researchers. The researchers shared their findings in Surgical Oncology.
This systematic review included 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT) and 5 non-randomized studies that were designed to investigate follow-up strategies in adults with stage I-III or resected stage IV melanoma. The patients were free of disease after curative-intent treatment.
Results from the RCT suggested that more intense surveillance does not provide a benefit in patients with stage IA-IIC melanoma. Both surveillance strategies studied included a history, physical examination, and structured skin self-examination education at each visit, and only patients with suspicion of recurrent disease were offered diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing.