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Gastrointestinal, lung, breast and thyroid were other primary cancers associated with melanoma

Gastrointestinal cancer was the most common other primary systemic cancer in patients with melanoma, according to recently published study results.

Researchers conducted statistical analyses of primary cancers in 452 patients (mean age, 64.4 years; 54% female) identified in a registry of Korean hospitals between Jan. 1, 1994 and Dec. 31, 2013.

Cancers diagnosed more than 2 months after melanoma diagnosis were classified as metachronous cancers, while others were defined as prechronous or synchronous cancers. The most common melanoma site was the acral area (53.8%), followed by head and neck (24.8%). Acral lentiginous melanoma was the most common melanoma subtype (48.5%).

Gastrointestinal cancer was the most common type of the 51 cases other primary cancers (35.3%), which was followed by thyroid (17.6%), lung (11.8%) and breast (5.9%). Other types of cancers made up the remaining 49% of the other primary cancer cases. Patients with acral melanoma had a higher prevalence of primary cancers (31 of 243 cases; 12.8%), when compared with patients with nonacral melanoma (20 of 209 cases; 9.6%).  Patients with acral cancer were more likely to experience gastrointestinal, lung, bone marrow and kidney cancers, when compared with the nonacral cohort, while patients with nonacral cancers were more likely to have thyroid and breast cancers when compared with the acral melanoma cohort.

“Of 23 cases of metachronous cancer, the risk was highest in bone marrow, followed by oral cavity, bladder, colon, lung and thyroid,” the researchers wrote.

Gastrointestinal tract cancer was most common in 28 cases of prechronous or synchronous cancers (35.7%), with thyroid (17.9%), breast (10.7%) and lung (7.1%) following.

“The high risk of multiple primary cancers in patients with melanoma necessitates careful follow-ups and systemic evaluations,” the researchers concluded. “Especially, internal organ cancers such as gastrointestinal, lung, breast, or thyroid cancer, which were relatively prevalent in our study, require a special imaging study, such as enhanced computed tomography or positron emission/computed tomography or ultrasonography for early detection.” – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.