Cutaneous melanoma is the most aggressive malignancy in skin cancers. Cutaneous melanoma is a rare disease in Taiwan with an incidence rate of around 1/100,000. Acral lentiginous melanoma is the most common subtype and comprises more than half of cutaneous melanoma in Asia including Taiwan but only 1% in Caucasians. In addition, mucosal melanoma accounts for more than 20% of malignancy melanoma in Taiwan but only 1% in Caucasians. Acral and mucosal melanomas have distinct epidemiological, clinical, pathological and genetic features from non-acral melanoma which is commonly seen in Western countries. Comparing with melanoma in Caucasians, Asian melanoma has higher recurrence rate after primary surgery, lower response rate to immunotherapy, and shorter progression-free survival for immunotherapy and targeted therapy leading generally poor survival outcomes regardless stage.
Age > 18 years old
Pathologically confirmed melanoma. (Patients with additional malignancies requiring treatment or follow-up are allowed. Only treatment for melanoma should be recorded).
ECOG performance status < 3
Cohort 1(early acral melanoma): melanoma, stage I/II; Cohort 2 (locally advanced acral melanoma): melanoma, stage III, resectable; and Cohort 3 (advanced): unresectable / metastatic melanoma, stage III/IV or recurrent melanoma (unresectable). Staging is based on AJCC Cancer Staging System 8th edition). The patients with advanced melanoma with available comprehensive NGS report are included in cohort 4.
Inability to cooperate by providing a complete medical history
No available tumor tissues for genetic testing (archived tissue sampling more than 5 years from screening date)
Undesirable compliance (Mental status is not fit for further treatment or data collection.)