Management and outcomes of primary anorectal melanoma in the United States

Abstract

<b>Aims:</b> To analyze outcomes in primary anorectal melanoma, a rare disease with limited data and treatment guidelines. <b>Materials & methods:</b> We analyzed 305 subjects in the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2015. The primary end point was overall survival (OS). <b>Results:</b> Surgery was predictive of OS (median 2.24 vs 1.18 years; p = 0.009) with no survival difference between local and transabdominal approaches (p = 0.77). No OS benefit was seen with chemotherapy (p = 0.16), radiotherapy (p = 0.31) or adjuvant therapy post surgery (p > 0.05 for all groups). Targeted therapy trended toward higher survival in metastatic patients (1.33 vs 0.55 years; p = 0.06). <b>Conclusion:</b> In nonmetastatic patients, surgery of any method is associated with a survival benefit. The trend for improved survival following targeted therapy in metastatic patients merits further exploration.