Immunosuppression is an independent prognostic factor associated with aggressive tumor behavior in cutaneous melanoma.

Background: A number of factors other than those identified by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) may have prognostic significance in the evaluation of melanoma.

Objective: We sought to evaluate commonly recorded clinical features potentially associated with aggressive melanoma.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study. We included patients given a diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma with at least 5 years of follow-up or documented metastases. Patients were divided into nonaggressive and aggressive groups. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the association of multiple clinical and histologic parameters and metastases.

Results: We included 141 patients. Significant prognostic factors in univariate analysis associated with nonaggressive disease included history of dysplastic nevus syndrome and ABCDE criteria. Significant factors in univariate analysis associated with aggressive disease included age and immunosuppression. Only age and immunosuppression remained significant in multivariate analysis when controlled across statistically significant histologic variables from AJCC.

Limitations: The study is retrospective and has a small sample size.

Conclusion: Older patients and those with a history of immunosuppression may be at higher risk for aggressive disease and should be closely monitored after an initial diagnosis of melanoma.