Adjuvant therapy versus watch-and-wait post surgery for stage III melanoma: a multicountry retrospective chart review.

To describe treatment patterns among patients with stage III melanoma who underwent surgical excision in years 2011-2016, and assess outcomes among patients who subsequently received systemic adjuvant therapy versus watch-and-wait. Chart review of 380 patients from 17 melanoma centers in North America, South America and Europe. Of 129 (34%) patients treated with adjuvant therapy, 85% received interferon α-2b and 56% discontinued treatment (mostly due to adverse events). Relapse-free survival was significantly longer for patients treated with adjuvant therapy versus watch-and-wait (hazard ratio = 0.63; p < 0.05). There was considerable heterogeneity in adjuvant treatment schedules and doses. Similar results were found in patients who received interferon-based adjuvant therapy. Adjuvant therapies with better safety/efficacy profiles will improve clinical outcomes in patients with stage III melanoma.

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© 2019 The authors.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Financial & competing interests disclosure This study was funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. P Mohr: honoraria: Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pierre Fabre, Novartis, Sanofi and Roche. F Kiecker: advisory boards: Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi and Roche; honoraria: Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pierre Fabre and Roche; clinical trial participation (principal investigator): Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi and Roche. R Koneru: research funding from Novartis; advisory boards: Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck. O Dereure: advisory board or honoraria and travel support: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Roche, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi. P Saiag: personal fees: Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Merck-Serono, Pfizer, Roche-Genentech, Pierre Fabre and Novartis; nonfinancial support from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Roche-Genentech and Novartis. J Utikal: advisory board or honoraria and travel support: Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, LeoPharma, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pierre Fabre and Roche. C Robert: honoraria: Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Pierre Fabre, Novartis, Sanofi and Roche. F Cuadros received research funding from Novartis; advisory boards: Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme; speakers bureau: Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp & Dohme. RU Villarroel: Advisory Board: Novartis, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Bristol-Myers Squibb; honoraria: Novartis, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Bristol-Myers Squibb; clinical trial participation principal investigator: Novartis, Merck Sharp & Dohme. YG Najjar: research funding: Merck; advisory board: Array Biopharma; clinical trial participation: Novartis, Genentech, Merck and Array Biopharma. L Kottschade: advisory board: Array BioPharma; research funding: Bristol-Myers Squibb. EM Couselo: advisory board: Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi and Roche; honoraria: Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pierre Fabre and Roche; clinical trial participation (principal investigator): Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi and Roche. R Koruth is an employee of Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation. A Guérin, R Burne and R Ionescu-Ittu are employees of Analysis Group, Inc., which has received consulting fees from Novartis. M Perrinjaquet is an employee of Navigant Germany GmbH, whose parent company has received consulting fees from Novartis. JS Zager: research funding: Novartis, Amgen, Philogen, Provectus, Delcath Systems, Castle Biosciences; advisory boards: Merck and Array Biopharma; medical advisory board: Delcath Systems; consulting: Philogen; speakers bureau: Sun Pharma and Array Biopharma. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Medical writing assistance was provided by S Rochette and G DeWalt, employees of Analysis Group, Inc.; support for this assistance was provided by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Data collection was coordinated by M Perrinjaquet and E Chater, employees of Navigant, while support for this assistance was provided by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.