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Updated: Oct 2, 2025
A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model
Published on: May 18, 2018
Not so 'rare'-an example of malignant melanoma in India: report from a tertiary cancer centre
Bivas Biswas1, Gautam Biswas2, Sandip Ganguly1
1Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Medical Center, 14 MAR [EW], New Town, Rajarhat, Kolkata 700160, West Bengal, India.
Purpose:
Malignant melanoma (MM) is rare in India. Indian data on demography and treatment outcome on advanced MM is very limited in the literature.
Materials & Methods:
This is a retrospective study of advanced MM treated between January 2013 and December 2020. We evaluated the clinicopathologic features, mutational profiles, survival outcome and prognostic factors in advanced MM patients.
Results:
Out of a total 460 patients, 185 (42%) had metastatic disease at presentation and were enrolled in this study with a median age of 63 years (range: 28-93) and male:female ratio of 94:91. The mucosal primary was predominant (n = 110, 59%) than cutaneous primary (38%) and anorectum was the most common site (n = 84, 45%). Tumour mutational analysis was performed in 65 (35%) patients. BRAF mutations were detected in 12 patients and KIT mutations in 7 patients. Thirteen patients didn't have any mutations and 22 patients had mutations other than KIT & BRAF. Only 59 (32%) patients took any systemic treatment - immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in 17, temozolomide in 18 and paclitaxel/carboplatin in 18, tyrosine kinase inhibitors in 6 patients. After a median follow-up of 26 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 11.6-not reached), median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.1 months (95% CI: 4.4-9.1) and median overall survival was 14.8 months (95% CI: 7.7-18.2 months). The use of ICI emerged as an only significant good prognostic factor (p ≤ 0.001) for PFS, on multivariate analysis.
Conclusion:
Mucosal origin was more common than cutaneous primary with anorectum being the most common site. BRAF mutation was less as compared to published literature. Very few patients received systemic therapy and the use of ICI showed superior PFS.
Insights
Advanced malignant melanoma in India predominantly originates from mucosal sites, with limited use of systemic therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with advanced melanoma.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Malignant melanoma (MM) is a rare cancer in India.
- Limited data exists on the demography and treatment outcomes of advanced MM in the Indian population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate clinicopathologic features, mutational profiles, and survival outcomes in advanced MM patients in India.
- To identify prognostic factors for treatment outcome in advanced MM.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of advanced MM patients treated between January 2013 and December 2020.
- Analysis of clinicopathologic data, tumor mutational profiles, survival data, and prognostic factors.
Main Results:
- 185 advanced MM patients were analyzed; median age 63, male:female ratio 94:91.
- Mucosal melanoma (59%) was more common than cutaneous (38%), with anorectum as the most frequent site (45%).
- BRAF mutations detected in 12 patients, KIT in 7. Only 32% received systemic therapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
- Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.1 months, and overall survival was 14.8 months.
- ICI use was the only significant positive prognostic factor for PFS (p ≤ 0.001) on multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
- Advanced MM in India predominantly has a mucosal origin, unlike in Western literature.
- BRAF mutation rates are lower than previously reported.
- Limited systemic therapy utilization, but ICI demonstrated superior PFS, highlighting its potential in advanced MM treatment.
