PubMed:9428377 JSONTXT

Prognostic factors in metastatic malignant melanoma. An analysis of 236 patients treated on clinical research studies at the Department of Medical Oncology, University of Pretoria, South Africa from 1972-1992. Prognostic factors in 236 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma were analyzed. The patients were all entered on clinical research studies at a single institution. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on data which was prospectively collected. Seven independent variables were analyzed for effect on response, time to treatment failure (TTF) and survival. Univariate analysis identified four factors which significantly effected response, TTF and survival: PS, dominant site of disease, number of sites of disease and treatment. In multivariate analyses dominant site of disease and treatment remained significant factors influencing response rates, but performance status (PS) and number of sites of metastases lost statistical significance. Treatment and number of sites were significant for TTF and treatment, PS and disease-free interval were significant for survival. The identification of prognostic factors may lead to identification of subgroups of patients who may benefit from existing treatment programs, and may allow for new treatment programs to be designed with greater insight, logic and rationale.