Performance of a 31‐gene expression profile test in cutaneous melanomas of the head and neck. Issue 4 (29th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gastman, Brian R.; Zager, Jonathan S.; Messina, Jane L.; Cook, Robert W.; Covington, Kyle R.; Middlebrook, Brooke; Gerami, Pedram; Wayne, Jeffrey D.; Leachman, Sancy; Vetto, John T.
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 41:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 871
• Page End: 879
• Publication Date: 2019-01-29
• Subjects: cutaneous melanoma -- gene expression profiling -- metastasis -- prognosis -- staging; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.25473
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: We report the performance of a gene expression profile test to classify the recurrence risk of cutaneous melanoma tumors of the head and neck as low‐risk Class 1 or high‐risk Class 2. Methods: Of note, 157 primary head and neck cutaneous melanoma tumors were identified. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan‐Meier and Cox methods. Results: Gene expression profile class and node status stratified tumors into significantly different 5‐year survival groups by Kaplan‐Meier method ( P < .0001 for all end points), and both were independent predictors of recurrence in multivariate analysis. Overall, 74% of distant metastases and 88% of melanoma‐specific deaths had Class 2 risk. Conclusion: The gene expression profile test identifies cases at increased risk for metastasis and death independent of a clinically or pathologically negative nodal status, suggesting that incorporation of this molecular tool could improve clinical management of patients with head and neck cutaneous melanoma, especially in those with a negative sentinel lymph node biopsy.