TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender differences in melanoma prognostic factors
AU - Farahi, Jessica Mounessa
AU - Fazzari, Melissa
AU - Braunberger, Taylor
AU - Caravaglio, Joseph V.
AU - Kretowicz, Alexandra
AU - Wells, Keith
AU - Dellavalle, Robert P.
AU - Norris, David
AU - Alkousakis, Theodore
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, Dermatology Online Journal. All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/4
Y1 - 2018/4
N2 - Background: Although previous studies identify gender differences in melanoma, limited research on the phenomenon exists. Methods: In this retrospective chart review, 1,156 adults diagnosed with melanoma, between 2006-2016, at the University of Colorado were included. Breslow depth, mitotic rate, ulceration status, and location were extracted from charts between March and August 2016. Cochran-Armitage trend tests and cumulative logistic regression were used to examine the association between gender and Breslow depth, univariately and after adjusting for potential confounders. Results: In univariate analysis, males were significantly more likely to present with lesions with higher Breslow depths (p for trend=0.005). In models adjusted for age, melanoma subtype, and location, males were marginally more likely to present with lesions with higher Breslow depths (cumulative OR: 1.261, 95% CI: 0.988-1.611, p=0.060). Males were also marginally more likely to present with lesions with higher mitotic rates, after further adjustments for all other prognostic factors (cumulative OR: 1.244, 95% CI: 0.979-1.580, p=0.074). Limitations: This was a retrospective single-institution study. Conclusion: Differences in mitotic rates among melanomas in males versus females, even after adjustments for all other prognostic factors, suggests that biological differences may contribute to the female prognosis advantage.
AB - Background: Although previous studies identify gender differences in melanoma, limited research on the phenomenon exists. Methods: In this retrospective chart review, 1,156 adults diagnosed with melanoma, between 2006-2016, at the University of Colorado were included. Breslow depth, mitotic rate, ulceration status, and location were extracted from charts between March and August 2016. Cochran-Armitage trend tests and cumulative logistic regression were used to examine the association between gender and Breslow depth, univariately and after adjusting for potential confounders. Results: In univariate analysis, males were significantly more likely to present with lesions with higher Breslow depths (p for trend=0.005). In models adjusted for age, melanoma subtype, and location, males were marginally more likely to present with lesions with higher Breslow depths (cumulative OR: 1.261, 95% CI: 0.988-1.611, p=0.060). Males were also marginally more likely to present with lesions with higher mitotic rates, after further adjustments for all other prognostic factors (cumulative OR: 1.244, 95% CI: 0.979-1.580, p=0.074). Limitations: This was a retrospective single-institution study. Conclusion: Differences in mitotic rates among melanomas in males versus females, even after adjustments for all other prognostic factors, suggests that biological differences may contribute to the female prognosis advantage.
KW - Breslow depth
KW - Gender
KW - Malignant melanoma
KW - Metastasis
KW - Mitotic rate
KW - Prognosis
KW - Ulceration
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M3 - Article
C2 - 29905998
AN - SCOPUS:85048720184
SN - 1087-2108
VL - 24
JO - Dermatology Online Journal
JF - Dermatology Online Journal
IS - 4
M1 - 2
ER -