Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte grade is an independent predictor of sentinel lymph node status and survival in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

Purpose: To determine whether density and distribution of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs; TIL grade) is an independent predictor of sentinel lymph node (SLN) status and survival in patients with clinically localized primary cutaneous melanoma.

Methods: From the Melanoma Institute Australia database, 1,865 patients with a single primary melanoma ≥ 0.75 mm in thickness were identified. The associations of clinical and pathologic factors with SLN status, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and melanoma-specific survival (MSS) were analyzed.

Results: The majority of patients had either no (TIL grade 0; 35.4%) or few (TIL grade 1; 45.1%) TILs, with a minority showing moderate (TIL grade 2; 16.3%) or marked (TIL grade 3; 3.2%) TILs. Tumor thickness, mitotic rate, and Clark level were inversely correlated with TIL grade (each P < .001). SLN biopsy was performed in 1,138 patients (61.0%) and was positive in 252 (22.1%). There was a significant inverse association between SLN status and TIL grade (SLN positivity rates for each TIL grade: 0, 27.8%; 1, 20.1%; 2, 18.3%; 3, 5.6%; P < .001). Predictors of SLN positivity were decreasing age (P < .001), decreasing TIL grade (P < .001), ulceration (P = .003), increasing tumor thickness (P = .01), satellitosis (P = .03), and increasing mitoses (P = .03). The 5-year MSS and RFS rates were 83% and 76%, respectively (median follow-up, 43 months). Tumor thickness (P < .001), ulceration (P < .001), satellitosis (P < .001), mitotic rate (P = .003), TIL grade (P < .001), and sex (P = .01) were independent predictors of MSS. Patients with TIL grade 3 tumors had 100% survival.

Conclusion: TIL grade is an independent predictor of survival and SLN status in patients with melanoma. Patients with a pronounced TIL infiltrate have an excellent prognosis.