Prognostic factors that determine the long-term survival of patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma

This retrospective analysis aimed to identify the prognostic factors that influenced long-term survival of patients with metastatic melanoma. The medical records for 616 chemo-naive patients who were treated with systemic therapy on eight phase II/III clinical trials were reviewed. Clinical characteristics, disease stage, metastatic sites, baseline serum albumin, LDH, and response to treatment were compared between the treatment groups and significant prognostic factors were identified. Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis identified treatment with biochemotherapy, younger age, normal baseline serum albumin and LDH levels, ECOG P.S. < 2 and absence of visceral metastasis as favorable prognostic factors for long-term survival.