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

AIM: 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. METHODS: Chart review of 380 patients from 17 melanoma centers in North America, South America and Europe. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant therapies with better safety/efficacy profiles will improve clinical outcomes in patients with stage III melanoma.