Age as key factor for pattern, timing, and extent of distant metastasis in patients with cutaneous melanoma: A study of the German Central Malignant Melanoma Registry

Abstract

Background: Melanoma incidence rates rise as people age, but the impact of aging on distant metastasis is unclear.

Objective: To investigate how timing, pattern, and extent of distant metastasis is influenced by age.

Methods: Analysis of a single-center cohort of 1457 patients of the German Central Malignant Melanoma Registry with prospectively documented follow-up. Findings were compared with those for 1682 patients from 5 different institutions. All patients presented initially with stage IA to IIC and developed distant metastasis in their further disease course.

Results: The number of metastatic sites decreased with increasing age at melanoma diagnosis (P < .001). The rate of stage M1d disease decreased from 50.2% in patients aged 50 years or younger to 30.1% in patients older than 70 years, and the rate of stage M1b disease increased from 5.8% to 21.5%. The rate of lung metastases remained stable in all investigated age groups (P = .54). Distant metastases occurred earlier and were more synchronized in patients older than 70 years than in patients aged 50 years or younger. An age-dependent decrease in metastatic sites and stable rate of lung metastasis were found and confirmed by data on the multi-institutional cohort.

Limitations: The study was not population based.

Conclusion: Pattern, timing, and extent of distant metastasis change as people age. These findings may be considered when treating patients with melanoma of different ages.

Keywords: age; brain metastasis; distant metastasis; melanoma; metastasis; metastatic disease; metastatic melanoma.