Modern drug therapies versus surgery of metastasis in melanoma that has spread

This study wanted to find out if advances in the treatment of melanoma over the last 60 years have had an impact on the survival of patients. The study found that while modern drug therapy improves survival, the most effective approach is to surgically remove the tumors that have spread through the body.

Melanoma can be difficult to treat, especially when it spreads away from the original site of the tumor through the body (metastasizing). There have been many medical advances in the treatment of melanoma that has spread. Up until recently, melanoma that has spread was mostly treated by surgically removing the tumors. New medications made specifically to treat melanoma that has spread have changed the standard treatment. The new medication started being used from around 2008. However, it is not known if survival is improved when treated with these new medications, compared to treating with surgery.

This study had 2353 patients. It looked back in time at results of patients who had been treated in the past. The patients were split into two groups, those who were treated from 1965 to 2007, and those who were treated from 2008 to 2015. All of these patients had stage 4 melanoma. 1065 of these patients had surgery to remove the melanoma tumors.

Of the patients treated from 2008-2015, 54.5% had surgery to remove their tumors. Of the patients treated from 1965 to 2007, 44.7% had surgery to remove their tumors. Patients who were treated from 1965-2007 with older drug therapies and surgery survived for an average of 27.1 months. Patients who were treated from 2008 – 2015 with the same treatments survived for an average of 50.4 months.

Some patients had drug therapy and surgery, while some only had drug therapy. In the patients who had surgery plus drug therapy, 58.8% were still alive after 5 years. In the patients who only had drug therapy, 38.9% were still alive after 5 years. The study found that patients who were treated with modern drug therapy were 71% more likely to survive. Patients treated with surgery were 53% more likely to survive.

The study concluded that modern drug therapies improve the survival in patients with melanoma that has spread, however surgery to remove tumors was found to be the most effective in improving survival.

This is a study that looked back in time at patients who were treated. Data collected in this way is not always reliable.