Risk factors of recurrence and distant metastasis in primary cutaneous melanoma in Taiwan

Risk factors of recurrence and distant metastasis of acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) are of great interest for the high percentage of ALM in cutaneous melanoma in Asian populations. This single-center retrospective cohort including 177 patients with localized melanoma diagnosed from 2004 to 2020 aims to identify adverse predictors in cutaneous melanoma in Taiwan, with a focus on ALM. The relationship between clinicopathological features and outcomes, including incidences of recurrence and distant metastasis in 5 years from diagnosis, was analyzed. This study included 124 patients (70.1%) with ALM and 53 (29.9%) with non-ALM melanoma. Regarding clinicopathological characteristics, ALM patients were diagnosed at an older age and received sentinel lymph node biopsies (SLNBs) more often, while adjacent melanocytic nevi were more prevalent in non-ALM patients. With respect to prognostic implications of clinicopathological features, in ALM, implementation of SLNB was associated with a lower 5-year distant metastasis rate. Thickness of melanoma lesions over 4 mm, ulceration, and neurotropism, were related to both higher 5-year recurrence and distant metastasis rates. With regard to non-ALM patients, diagnoses made at or over 65 years old was linked to a higher 5-year recurrence rate, whereas ulceration was associated with both higher 5-year recurrence and distant metastasis rates. In conclusion, several clinicopathological characteristics have been identified to be associated with poor prognosis of cutaneous melanoma, especially ALM.