Prevalence Of Melanoma Research Articles

Epidemiological, clinical and histological characteristics of melanoma in young adults: a 30-year retrospective study (1993-2022).

Melanoma in young adults significantly impacts the survival of this age group. There are limited studies that analyze melanoma characteristics in young patients. We aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and histological characteristics of melanoma in young adults and their temporal trends over the last decades. A retrospective observational study was conducted, involving 399 melanoma patients aged 18-44, over a 30-year period (1993-2022). Patients were divided into two groups based on their date of diagnosis (period 1, 1993-2007, and period 2, 2008-2022). Age at diagnosis was higher in the most recent period (34.3 vs 37; p=0.001). Over time, there was a reduction in thickness (1 vs 0.68 mm; p=0.01), a rise in melanomas located on the head and neck (6.5% vs 14.8%) and extremities (42.2% vs 45%), along with a decrease on the trunk (51.3% vs 40.2%) (p=0.009); and an increase in lentigo maligna (2.3% vs 5.3%) and superficial spreading melanomas (76.5% vs 84%), along with reduction in nodular types (16.1% vs 5.9%) (p=0.012). Women had, compared to men, higher limb melanoma prevalence (56.3% vs 27.1%; p<0.001), family history (11.7% vs 5.1%; p=0.020), lower thickness (0.69 vs 1.10; p= 0.001) and better prognosis (14.4% vs 20.9% deaths; p=0.012). Melanoma diagnoses in young adults occur at progressively advanced ages, with a rise in melanomas situated on the head and extremities and in histological types linked to prolonged sun exposure. Strategies like minimizing sun exposure from a young age and encouraging self-examination could lead to improved survival rates.

A retrospective analysis of oral tumors in dogs in Switzerland identifies peripheral odontogenic fibroma and melanoma as the predominant tumor types.

Determine the prevalence, types, and geographical distribution of oral tumors in dogs in Switzerland to provide insights into demographics, tumor characteristics, and trends. The medical and pathology records of dogs diagnosed with oral tumors from 2012 to 2022 were sourced from diagnostic laboratories in Switzerland. The focus was on histopathologically confirmed oral neoplasms. Inflammatory, viral, and cystic lesions were excluded. Geographic trends were analyzed by use of postal addresses, revealing local distributions. Of the 948 reports, 773 cases fulfilled the study's criteria. Benign tumors constituted 63% (487 of 773), with peripheral odontogenic fibroma being the most common (77.8% [379 of 487]). Among the malignant tumors, malignant melanoma was the most frequent (38.1% [109 of 286]), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (21% [60 of 286]) and fibrosarcoma (8% [23 of 286]). The locations of tumors varied, with a higher prevalence of malignant melanoma on the lips. Histopathologic findings indicated ulceration and necrosis were more common in malignant tumors. Significant differences were noted in the mitotic index between benign and malignant groups. No tumor predisposition was noted for any breed. Oral tumors were prevalent in older dogs (median age, 9.4 years). The findings highlighted the predominance of benign tumors in dogs in Switzerland, with specific histopathologic features distinguishing benign from malignant cases. Understanding the prevalence, types, and geographic distribution of oral tumors based on the representation in dogs in Switzerland may aid in early detection, appropriate diagnostic workup, and informed treatment planning for oral tumors in dogs.

Eniluracil blocks AREG signalling-induced pro-inflammatory fibroblasts of melanoma in heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is characterized by a heightened risk of melanoma, which often metastasizes to the heart. The overlap pathology between HF and melanoma includes chronic low-grade inflammation and dysregulation of inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts (iCAFs). The impact of HF on iCAF-driven tumour inflammation remains obscure. To identify critical genes for HF development, transcriptomic data (GSE57338) containing 313 clinical HF samples [136 healthy controls, 95 ischaemia (ISCH) and 82 dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)] were analysed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and perform enrichment analysis. Fifty-one DEGs in ISCH and 62 DEGs in DCM were identified with log2|fold change (FC)|≥1 and P value ≤0.05. All these genes are involved in extracellular matrix organization, immune/inflammatory responses and Wnt signalling pathways. Then, the overall survival curves and prognostic models of DEGs in melanoma were evaluated. The correlation of gene expression with lymphocyte infiltration levels was assessed. Only aldehyde oxidase 1 (AOX1) and amphiregulin (AREG) maintained the same trend in melanoma as in HF, negatively affecting prognosis by regulating lymphocyte infiltration (log-rank P value=0.0017 and 0.0019). The potential drug molecules were screened, and the binding energies were calculated via molecular docking. Eniluracil, a known AOX1 targeting drug, was found to stably bind with AREG (hydrogen bond binding energies: -65.633, -63.592 and -62.813kcal/mol). The increased prevalence of melanoma in HF patients and its propensity for cardiac metastasis may be due to AREG-mediated systemic low-grade inflammation. Eniluracil holds promise as a therapeutic agent that may block AREG signalling, inhibiting the activation of iCAF mediated by regulatory T cell (Treg) and neutrophil.

Trends in Melanoma Incidence, Prevalence, Stage at Diagnosis, and Survival: An Analysis of the United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) Database.

Background and objectives Melanoma, a major skin cancer, has seen varying trends in incidence, prevalence, stage atdiagnosis, and survival. This study examines these trends using the United States CancerStatistics (USCS) database, covering the period from 1999 to 2021. Methods We extracted data from the USCS database, which integrates the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR). The analysis included new melanoma cases, prevalence estimates (using a 20-year limited duration), stage at diagnosis, and five-year relative survival rates. Incidence rates were adjusted for age using the 2000 United States standard population. Descriptive and trend analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 29 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results The analysis of melanoma trends from 1999 to 2021 reveals a significant increase in the annual age-adjusted incidence rate, rising from 15.1 per 100,000 (95% CI: 14.9- 15.2) in 1999 to 23.0 per 100,000 (95% CI: 22.8- 23.1) in 2021. This upward trend is consistent across gender and racial/ethnic groups. The prevalence of melanoma over a 20-year period was 0.279 (95% CI: 0.276-0.282), with males showing a higher prevalence (0.302, 95% CI: 0.298-0.306) compared to females (0.256, 95% CI: 0.252-0.260). The distribution of melanoma stage at diagnosis indicated that 77% of cases were localized (95% CI: 76.5-77.5%), 9.5% regional (95% CI: 9.2-9.8%), 4.7% distant (95% CI: 4.4-5.0%), and 8.8% unstaged (95% CI: 8.5-9.1%). Survival analysis showed a five-year relative survival rate of 99.4% (95% CI: 99.2-99.6%) for localized melanoma and 35.6% (95% CI: 33.7-37.6%) for distant melanoma, highlighting significant disparities in survival based on stage at diagnosis. Conclusions The study highlights a rising incidence of melanoma and emphasizes the critical role of early detection in improving survival outcomes. The findings underscore the effectiveness of early diagnosis and the necessity for ongoing efforts to improve melanoma outcomes across diverse populations.

Age-sex characteristics of the incidence of melanoma of the skin in the Samara region

Currently, melanoma of the skin is an urgent medical and social problem. In recent decades, there has been an increase in the incidence and prevalence in the world and in the Russian Federation. According to the results of an epidemiological study, an increase in the prevalence and incidence of skin melanoma in the Samara region in 2014–2022 was revealed. An in-depth calculation and analysis of five-year sex and age indicators of the incidence of melanoma of the skin was carried out. It has been established that the incidence rate in women generally prevails over the incidence rate of men in almost every five-year age group. With increasing age (especially in the group of 70 years and older), the incidence becomes higher in both men and women. The fact of a significant increase in the incidence of skin melanoma in 2022 compared to 2014 in young working ages is alarming. The results obtained indicate the need to increase the effectiveness of targeted preventive measures to reduce the prevalence and incidence of skin melanoma, taking into account age and sex characteristics.

Can Delta Radiomics Improve the Prediction of Best Overall Response, Progression-Free Survival, and Overall Survival of Melanoma Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors?

The prevalence of metastatic melanoma is increasing, necessitating the identification of patients who do not benefit from immunotherapy. This study aimed to develop a radiomic biomarker based on the segmentation of all metastases at baseline and the first follow-up CT for the endpoints best overall response (BOR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), encompassing various immunotherapies. Additionally, this study investigated whether reducing the number of segmented metastases per patient affects predictive capacity. The total tumour load, excluding cerebral metastases, from 146 baseline and 146 first follow-up CTs of melanoma patients treated with first-line immunotherapy was volumetrically segmented. Twenty-one random forest models were trained and compared for the endpoints BOR; PFS at 6, 9, and 12 months; and OS at 6, 9, and 12 months, using as input either only clinical parameters, whole-tumour-load delta radiomics plus clinical parameters, or delta radiomics from the largest ten metastases plus clinical parameters. The whole-tumour-load delta radiomics model performed best for BOR (AUC 0.81); PFS at 6, 9, and 12 months (AUC 0.82, 0.80, and 0.77); and OS at 6 months (AUC 0.74). The model using delta radiomics from the largest ten metastases performed best for OS at 9 and 12 months (AUC 0.71 and 0.75). Although the radiomic models were numerically superior to the clinical model, statistical significance was not reached. The findings indicate that delta radiomics may offer additional value for predicting BOR, PFS, and OS in metastatic melanoma patients undergoing first-line immunotherapy. Despite its complexity, volumetric whole-tumour-load segmentation could be advantageous.

Malignant melanoma in Portuguese adult population: a scoping review of the real-world evidence.

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive cancer, and there is a notable dearth on epidemiology, clinical and treatment characterization within the Portuguese population. We performed a scoping review to identify real-world evidence studies focused in Portuguese adult patients with malignant melanoma. A comprehensive search was conducted. After screening, we described the studies by design, sample size, geographics, setting, population, and outcomes reported. The search yielded 54 studies, mainly retrospective (79.6%). The population assessed was heterogeneous varying from patients with melanoma in general to specific types of melanoma, or even more restricted to patients with specific conditions. The evidence found was mostly concerning clinical outcomes (n=46), patients' clinical profile (n=44) and demographic characterization (n=48). Treatment information was described in 30 studies whereas only 18 reported epidemiological parameters. Studies were mainly performed by the major oncology centers in Lisbon, Oporto and Coimbra, and only two evaluated the entire Portuguese population. To allow comparability, only studies including patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma were considered (13 of the 54) for outcomes evaluation analysis. Median OS varied from 18 to 36 months, assessed after melanoma treatment. Incidence was the most reported epidemiological parameter, confirming the increasing number of cutaneous malignant melanoma patients over the years. Only one study reported prevalence and four reported mortality rates. The evidence found confirms the lack of information about malignant melanoma in Portugal, highlighting the need of real-world studies to assess melanoma prevalence and incidence rates, current treatment approaches, and clinical characterization of these patients.

Available medical imaging modalities for melanoma screening

The prevalence of melanoma of the skin has seen a significant rise in recent decades, constituting approximately one-third of all diagnosed cancer cases. Melanoma, the most fatal variant among cutaneous malignancies, exhibits a 4% probability of occurrence over an individual’s lifetime. The increasing incidence and mortality rates of skin cancer impose a substantial burden on healthcare resources and the economy. In recent years, several optical modalities, including dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), optical coherence tomography, multiphoton excited fluorescence imaging, and dermatofluorescence, have been extensively studied and utilized to improve the non-invasive diagnosis of skin cancer. This review article provides an analysis of the approach employed in the recently developed optical non-invasive diagnostic technologies. It explores the clinical uses of these techniques, while also examining their respective advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, the paper explores the possibility for additional advancements in these technologies in the future.

Assessing melanoma prognosis: the interplay between patient profiles, survival, and BRAF, NRAS, KIT, and TWT mutations in a retrospective multi-study analysis.

The incidence and prevalence of melanoma are increasing globally, presenting a significant public health concern. The main genetic drivers of melanoma include BRAF, NRAS, KIT and triple wild-type (TWT) mutations. Little is known about the effects of these mutations on outcomes in terms of demographics and patient characteristics. We examined differences in melanoma mortality risk and mutation count across mutation type and patient disease profile. We extrapolated primary melanoma patient data from 14 studies via the cBioportal database. Patients were divided into demographic groups and classified according to BRAF, NRAS, KIT and TWT mutation status. Analyses included two-sample Student t -test and two-way analysis of variance tests analysis with Tukey's post hoc test. Survival outcomes were compared via Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression. NRAS-mutated patients exhibited decreased overall survival compared to BRAF-mutated patients. Male patients had higher mutation counts across all gene groups than females, with the fewest TWT mutations in comparison to BRAF, NRAS and KIT mutations. Males also exhibited increased mortality risk for NRAS, KIT and TWT mutations compared to BRAF mutations. An unknown primary melanoma was associated with increased mortality risk across all gene groups. NRAS-mutated acral melanoma patients had an increased mortality risk compared to NRAS-mutated cutaneous melanoma patients. Older patients had a higher mortality risk than younger patients. Patients with heavier versus lower weights had lower mortality risk, which was more pronounced for BRAF-mutated patients. These relationships highlight the importance of demographic and pathologic relationships to aid in risk assessment and personalize treatment plans.

Transmission and Non-transmission of Melanoma From Deceased Solid Organ Donors to Transplant Recipients: Risks and Missed Opportunities.

Biovigilance concerns are in tension with the need to increase organ donation. Cancer transmission risk from donor to recipient may be overestimated, as non-transmission events are rarely reported. We sought to estimate melanoma transmission risk in deceased organ donation and identify missed opportunities for donation in an Australian cohort with high melanoma prevalence. We used a population-based approach and linked deceased organ donors, transplant recipients, and potential donors forgone, 2010-2018, with the Central Cancer Registry (CCR), 1976-2018. We identified melanomas using ICD-O-3 classification, assessed the probability of transmission, and compared suspected melanoma history in potential donors forgone with melanoma notifications in the CCR. There were 9 of 993 donors with melanoma in CCR; 4 in situ low-risk and 5 invasive high-to-unacceptable risk. Four were unrecognized before donation. Of 16 transplant recipients at risk, we found 0 of 14 transmission events (2 recipients had insufficient follow-up). Of 35 of 3588 potential donors forgone for melanoma risk alone, 17 were otherwise suitable for donation; 6 of 35 had no melanoma in CCR, 2 of 35 had in situ melanomas and 9 of 35 had thin invasive melanomas (localized, ≤0.8 mm thickness). Our findings contribute to current evidence that suggests donors with melanomas of low metastatic potential may provide an opportunity to safely increase organ donation and so access to transplantation.

BRAF-Mutated Melanoma Journey in Latin America: Expert Recommendations From Diagnosis to Treatment.

• Gather a panel of Latin American experts in testing and treating BRAF-melanoma. • Describe the current landscape of BRAF-mutated melanoma in Latin America. • Outline the current gaps in testing and recommend improvements for testing and treating BRAF-mutated melanoma in the region. Melanoma prevalence in Latin America is lower than in high- and middle-income countries. However, recent data indicate that the region's incidence and mortality are rising, with more stage IV patients being diagnosed. According to international clinical practice guidelines, conducting BRAF-mutation testing in patients with stage III or stage IV melanoma and high-risk resected disease is imperative. Still, BRAF-mutation testing and targeted therapies are inconsistently available in the region. Americas Health Foundation convened a meeting of Latin American experts on BRAF-mutated melanoma to develop guidelines and recommendations for diagnosis through treatment. Some recommendations for improving diagnostics through improving access and reducing the cost of BRAF-mutation testing, enhancing efficiency in pathology laboratories, and creating country-specific local guidelines. The panel also gave treatment recommendations for neo-adjuvant therapy, adjuvant therapy, and therapy for patients with metastatic disease in Latin America.

Nine Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Class I Alleles are Omnipotent Against 11 Antigens Expressed in Melanoma Tumors.

Host immunogenetics (Human Leukocyte Antigen, HLA) play a critical role in the human immune response to melanoma, influencing both melanoma prevalence and immunotherapy outcomes. Beneficial outcomes hinge on the successful binding of epitopes of melanoma antigens to HLA Class I molecules for an effective engagement of cytotoxic CD8+ lymphocytes and subsequent elimination of the cancerous cell. This study evaluated the binding affinity and immunogenicity of HLA Class I to melanoma tumor antigens to identify alleles best suited to facilitate elimination of melanoma antigens. In this study, we used freely available software tools to determine in silico the binding affinity and immunogenicity of 2462 reported HLA Class I alleles to all linear nonamer epitopes of 11 known antigens expressed in melanoma tumors (TRP2, S100, Tyrosinase, TRP1, PMEL(17), MAGE1, MAGE4, CTA, BAGE, GAGE/SSX2, Melan). We identified the following 9 HLA Class I alleles with very high immunogenicity and binding affinity against all 11 melanoma antigens: A*02:14, B*07:10, B*35:10, B*40:10, B*40:12, B*44:10, C*07:11, and C*07:13, and C*07:14. These 9 HLA alleles possess the potential to aid in the elimination of melanoma both by themselves and by enhancing the beneficial effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Melanoma-the therapeutic considerations in the clinical practice.

The incidence of melanoma is increasing and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation remains the main risk factor. Public health measures have been vital in tackling the increased incidence and prevalence of melanoma. The management of melanoma has been revolutionised with the approval of new immunotherapy treatments (anti PD-1, CTLA-4 and LAG-3 antibodies) and targeted therapies (BRAF and MEK inhibitors). With some of these therapies becoming the standard of care in the management of advanced disease, it is likely we will see their use increase in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant setting. Recently, literature has demonstrated the benefits patients could derive from the combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) due to the promising results on its efficacy when compared to monotherapy. However, greater clarity on its use is needed in more unique presentations such as BRAF-wild type melanoma, where the lack of driver mutations makes disease management more challenging. Surgical resection remains an integral part of the management of earlier stages of the disease with a consequent decrease in reliance on other forms of therapy such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Finally, we evaluated the novel emerging experimental approaches to treatment such as adoptive T cell therapy, novel oncolytic treatments and cancer vaccines. We discussed how their use could improve patients' prognosis, enhance treatment efficacy, and potentially achieve cure.

Prevalence of subungual melanoma in patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Subungual melanoma (SUM) is a rare type of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) associated with poor prognosis, while data regarding its prevalence are scarce. We sought to provide a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence rates of SUM among all types of CMM, considering certain demographic and clinical characteristics. The MEDLINE electronic database was searched systematically to identify eligible studies providing prevalence rate estimates of SUM in patients with CMM. Included studies were further analysed to estimate the relative prevalences of SUM according to study design, study years, geographical region and sex distribution. Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The overall SUM prevalence was 1.9% (95% CI [1.5%-2.3%]). The prevalence of SUM did not differ significantly between population- and hospital-based studies and remained stable over time. However, it was found to be significantly higher in Asians compared to patients of other geographical regions as well as in studies with more men than women compared to those with female preponderance (p < 0.001). In all, the overall SUM prevalence among all subtypes of CMM was estimated at 1.9%, without significant changes over time, and was found to exhibit significant variability between subgroups of different geographical regions.

Epidemiology and Prognostic Factors of Malignant Melanoma Among 200 Asian Patients from a Single Medical Center

With the prevalence of malignant melanoma increasing gradually and the progressive westernization of the Asian lifestyle, it is important to analyze and follow up on the characteristics of malignant melanoma at regular intervals. We identified the characteristics of malignant melanoma by analyzing consecutive patients from a single medical center. We also examined the trend of malignant melanoma and prognostic factors in Asian patients. We investigated 200 consecutive patients with malignant melanoma in a single medical center between 2000 and 2022. Each patient’s sex and age, tumor stage, site of the primary lesion, histological subtype, Breslow thickness, Clark level, and period of survival were collected from the historical medical records of the patients and analyzed. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan–Meier method to investigate the prognostic factors. The ratio of man-to-woman was 1:1.53; the most common site of the primary tumor was the lower extremity (60%), and acral lentiginous melanoma was the most common histological subtype (61%). Malignant melanoma commonly occurs in the lower extremities, primarily in the form of the lentiginous subtype. In situ melanomas are most prevalent regarding Breslow thickness, while Clark Level 4 is the most common type of malignant melanoma. Sex and Breslow thickness were significantly associated with the survival rate. However, others were not significant prognostic indicators for survival in this cohort. This study confirmed that the epidemiology of malignant melanoma in Asian patients was maintained without significant change. We also confirmed several significant prognostic indicators for survival.

Biodegradable and dissolvable resveratrol nanocrystals non-silicon microneedles for transdermal drug delivery

The prevalence and lethality of cutaneous melanoma have increased in recent years. Lower skin penetration rates and poor soluble affect the effective delivery of resveratrol. To overcome these two issues, a biodegradable and dissolvable resveratrol nanocrystals non-silicon microneedles was designed in this study. The nanocrystals technology was used to improve the resveratrol solubility. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the amorphous resveratrol nanocrystals were successfully prepared with a particle size of 161 ± 9 nm and presented a superior performance in vitro dissolution of 84.14 ± 2.53% for 120 min. For the skin permeability issue, a dissolvable microneedle, made with a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer (a mixture of polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyvinyl alcohol), exhibited exceptional mechanical strength even the microneedles matrix was loaded with the drug for 1.26 N/needle. The z-axis scanning also exhibited the uniformity of rhodamine B within the needle. And it presented rapid resveratrol releases after puncture into the mice's skin. The dissolvable microneedles loaded with the resveratrol nanocrystals provided an efficient and convenient transdermal delivery system.

Clinical, Dermoscopic, and Histological Characteristics of Melanoma Patients According to the Age Groups: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Although the role of melanoma risk factors is well documented, their correlation with patients' age is less frequently analyzed. The analysis was performed among 189 melanoma patients in different age groups, including <30 years, 31-60 years, and >60 years, to investigate the risk factors, topography, and coexistence of morphological features of 209 melanomas (dermoscopic and histopathological). Among the youngest age group, no correlation with the presence of estimated risk factors was found. The most common dermoscopic pattern was spitzoid and multicomponent asymmetric. The group of middle-aged patients was the most diverse in terms of the occurrence of risk factors, solar lentiginosis, dermoscopic patterns, topography, histological subtypes, and invasiveness of melanomas. The oldest group characterized a strong correlation between solar lentiginosis, NMSC comorbidity, the prevalence of facial melanomas, the dermoscopic pattern of melanoma arising on chronic sun-damaged skin, and regression. The findings regarding the presence of age-specific features in melanoma patients, especially in the youngest and middle-aged groups, might be helpful for clinicians and to target secondary prevention efforts.

Pediatric Melanoma: Geographic Trends in Incidence, Stage, and Mortality in the United States

IntroductionPediatric melanoma is the most commonly diagnosed skin cancer in children, with the annual incidence recently increasing by an average of 2% each year. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from excessive sun exposure is an important carcinogenic risk factor, with penetration varying greatly throughout the country. Consequently, an individual's geographic location may play a role in how much exposure to high UV index rays they receive throughout their lifetime. The objective of this study was to use the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results SEER database to study geographic trends in incidence, staging, and mortality of pediatric melanoma between 2009 and 2019 and determine their relation to UV index in the United States. Materials and methodsA retrospective analysis of pediatric patients from 0 to 19 years in the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results 22 registries incidence database (17 states) and 17 registries incidence-based mortality database (12 states) was conducted from 2009 to 2019 based on a diagnosis of melanoma of the skin using the International Classification of Childhood Cancer codes for malignant melanoma. Data regarding patient demographics and incidence, staging, and mortality per state were extracted. Incidence data were geographically mapped and mean UV index distribution from www.epa.gov was superimposed. ResultsIncidence of pediatric melanoma was stratified regionally, with a total of 1665 new cases from 2009 to 2019. The Northeast had 393 new cases, with 244 (62.1%) localized cases, 55 (14.0%) lymph node-invasive and metastatic (advanced) cases, and 6/146 (4.1%) cases of mortality. The Midwest had 209 new cases, with 123 (58.9%) localized cases, 29 (13.9%) advanced cases, and 1/57 (1.8%) case of mortality. The South had 487 new cases, with 224 (46.0%) localized cases, 104 (21.4%) advanced cases, and 8/232 (3.4%) cases of mortality. The West had 576 new cases, with 364 (63.2%) localized cases, 82 (14.2%) advanced cases, and 23/551 (4.2%) cases of mortality. Mean UV index was 4.4 in the Northeast, 4.8 in the Midwest, 7.3 in the South, and 5.5 in the West from 2006 to 2020. The regional difference in incidence was not statistically significant. There was a statistically significant increased number of advanced cases in the South as compared to the Northeast (P = 0.005), West (P = 0.002), and Midwest (P = 0.02), with a significant correlation coefficient of 0.7204 between advanced cases and mean UV index in the South. ConclusionsThere is a statistically significant increased incidence of lymph node-invasive and metastatic pediatric melanoma cases in the South as compared to the West, Northeast, and Midwest regions of the United States. There is also a significant correlation between the incidence of lymph node-invasive and metastatic pediatric melanoma cases and UV index. In the pediatric population, there is no statistically significant association between total incidence and mortality of melanoma and geographic region. There is an increased prevalence of pediatric melanoma seen in White and female patients. This suggests that an individual's geographic location in the United States during childhood may play a role in their likelihood of malignant melanoma development, advanced-stage melanoma development, and mortality.

ANALYSIS OF DYNAMICS OF REGIONAL AND AGE-GENDER CHARACTERISTICS OF MELANOMA INCIDENCE IN UKRAINE DURING 2010-2020

The aim. To determine the age-sex and regional characteristics of the dynamics of melanoma incidence in Ukraine during 2010-2020.&#x0D; Material and methods. The research materials were the official statistical data of the reports of the Center for Medical Statistics of the Central Hospital of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine "Incidence rates of malignant neoplasms and activities of the oncology service in Ukraine", the National Cancer Registry for 2010–2020.&#x0D; Results. The dynamics of the incidence of melanoma in the population of Ukraine during 2010-2020 were analyzed. The age-sex characteristics of the prevalence and primary incidence of melanoma, as well as among different regions of Ukraine, were studied.&#x0D; Conclusions. The prevalence of melanoma in 2020 was 69.2 cases per 100,000 people. and increased during 10 years by 52.4%. The negative dynamics of the prevalence of melanoma affected the population of all regions of Ukraine without exception. The incidence of melanoma was 5.1 cases per 100,000 population. (decreased by 4.8%). The incidence of men is lower than that of women by 15.7% (in 2010 – by 27.2%), in men, it increased by 6.3%, and in women, it decreased by 13.7%. Melanoma cases are three times more common in people of retirement age than in working age (14.1 versus 3.6 cases per 100,000 population). The relevance of studying the morbidity of the population of Ukraine is only increasing, as war events increase the risk of skin cancer.

Melanoma: Does It Present Differently in Darker Skin Tones?

There are vast differences in clinical presentations of melanoma across skin tones. Individuals with darker skin tones tend to have a higher prevalence of advanced-stage melanoma, which correlates with increased mortality. We designed this interactive workshop to increase nursing and medical trainees' awareness of the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of melanoma in individuals of darker skin tones. The Kern model was used in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the workshop. The 75-minute workshop consisted of a PowerPoint presentation, video-based reflection activities, and case studies. Evaluation consisted of pre- and postworkshop questionnaires. The workshop was implemented two times among 63 nursing students, 11 medical students/residents, and six medical faculty. Seventy-one participants completed the pre- and postworkshop evaluations. A comparison of pre- and postworkshop responses utilizing the Wilcoxon matched-pair signed rank test showed a statistically significant increase in learners' confidence to address each learning objective. Through this interactive educational presentation, medical and nursing trainees can gain heightened awareness of melanoma across various skin tones, especially unique presentations in darker skin tones.