Overall Survival Improved for Contemporary Patients with Melanoma: A 2004–2015 National Cancer Database Analysis

INTRODUCTION: Since 2011, encouraging clinical trial results have led to approval of multiple new therapies for advanced melanoma, but the impact of these therapies outside of trial populations is largely unknown. This study examines use of novel therapies and survival in contemporary patients with melanoma. METHODS: Stage I–IV melanoma patients were identified in the 2004–2015 National Cancer Database and grouped into historic (2004–2010) and contemporary (2011–2015) cohorts. Overall survival (OS) was compared using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard modeling adjusting for patient, tumor, and facility characteristics. RESULTS: Of 268,668 patients, 136,828 were classified as historic and 131,840 as contemporary. Among all stages, immunotherapy utilization was significantly higher among contemporary patients (5.3% vs. 5.1%, p = 0.006). Adjusted OS was improved in the contemporary cohort (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.90 p < 0.001). There was no difference in OS among stage I/II patients between groups (HR: 0.99, p = 0.63), while OS was significantly improved for contemporary stage III/IV patients (HR: 0.85, p < 0.001). Among stage III/IV patients who received immunotherapy, OS was improved for the contemporary cohort (HR: 0.87, p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Adjusted overall survival for contemporary melanoma patients is improved. This effect is driven by improvements for those with advanced stage disease, particularly those that received immunotherapy and BRAF/MEK targeted therapies.