Predicting cutaneous malignant melanoma patients' survival using deep learning: a retrospective cohort study

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2023 Dec;149(19):17103-17113. doi: 10.1007/s00432-023-05421-7. Epub 2023 Sep 27.

Abstract

Background: Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) has the worst prognosis among skin cancers, especially metastatic CMM. Predicting its prognosis accurately could direct clinical decisions.

Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was screened to collect CMM patients' data. According to diagnosed time, patients were subdivided into three cohorts, train cohort (diagnosed between 2010 and 2013), validation cohort (diagnosed in 2014), and test cohort (diagnosed in 2015). Train cohort was used to train deep learning survival model for cutaneous malignant melanoma (DeepCMM). DeepCMM was then evaluated in train cohort and validation cohort internally, and validated in test cohort externally.

Results: DeepCMM showed 0.8270 (95% CI, confidence interval, CI 0.8260-0.8280) as area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) in train cohort, 0.8274 (95% CI 0.8286-0.8298) AUC in validation cohort, and 0.8303 (95% CI 0.8289-0.8316) AUC in test cohort. Then DeepCMM was packaged into a Windows 64-bit software for doctors to use.

Conclusion: Deep learning survival model for cutaneous malignant melanoma (DeepCMM) can offer a reliable prediction on cutaneous malignant melanoma patients' overall survival.

Keywords: Cutaneous malignant melanoma; Deep learning; Neural network; Survival.

MeSH terms

  • Deep Learning*
  • Humans
  • Melanoma* / pathology
  • Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology