Treatment patterns, outcomes, and resource utilization of patients with metastatic melanoma in the U . K .: the MELODY study

Summary Background Advanced melanoma is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Approved therapy is limited in the U . K . and, until recently, no treatment had improved survival over best supportive care. A deeper understanding of current clinical practice will help new agents find a place in future treatment pathways. Objectives To document U . K . clinical practice for the treatment of patients with unresectable stage III / IV (advanced) melanoma. Methods MELODY (melanoma treatment patterns and outcomes among patients with unresectable stage III / IV disease: a retrospective longitudinal survey) compiled registries of consecutive patients with malignant melanoma (any stage) between 1 J uly 2005 and 30 J une 2006 from F rance, I taly and the U . K . Patients with advanced melanoma and ≥ 2 months of follow‐up were eligible for analysis. Results There were 220 eligible patients identified in the U . K ., of whom 117 (53·2%) received systemic therapy outside of clinical trials. Over half of these patients received dacarbazine as first‐ or second‐line therapy. Healthcare‐resource utilization was extensive and patients had short survival times: 1‐ and 2‐year survival rates after first‐line systemic treatment were 45·5% [95% confidence interval ( CI ) 37·1–53·6] and 24·7% (95% CI 17·7–32·3), respectively. Conclusions Systemic and palliative treatments used to manage advanced melanoma in the U . K . are associated with considerable healthcare resource utilization and poor short‐term survival.