Treatment patterns in geriatric patients with melanoma and the effect of age on the efficacy of immunotherapy: Analysis from the real-world multicenter registry ADOREG

Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review

Contributors

  • Konstantinos Lallas - , University Hospital Tübingen, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Author)
  • Lena Nanz - , University Hospital Tübingen (Author)
  • Selma Ugurel - , Bielefeld University (Author)
  • Peter Mohr - , Elbe Clinics Stade/Buxtehude (Author)
  • Friedegund Meier - , Department of Dermatology, National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Michael Weichenthal - , University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel (Author)
  • Imke von Wasielewski - , Hannover Medical School (MHH) (Author)
  • Patrick Terheyden - , University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein - Campus Lübeck (Author)
  • Jessica Hassel - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Alexander Kreuter - , Witten/Herdecke University (Author)
  • Rudolf Herbst - , Fresenius AG (Author)
  • Anja Gesierich - , Bavarian Center for Cancer Research (BZKF) (Author)
  • Claudia Pföhler - , Saarland University (Author)
  • Ralf Gutzmer - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Julia Welzel - , University Hospital Augsburg (Author)
  • Christoffer Gebhardt - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Sebastian Haferkamp - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Jens Ulrich - , Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (Author)
  • Martin Kaatz - , DRK Hospital Chemnitz-Rabenstein, SRH Wald-Klinikum Gera (Author)
  • Frank Meiss - , University Medical Center Freiburg (Author)
  • Carola Berking - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Thilo Gambichler - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Elisabeth Livingstone - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Lisa Zimmer - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Lukas Flatz - , University Hospital Tübingen (Author)
  • Andrea Forschner - , University Hospital Tübingen (Author)
  • Dirk Schadendorf - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)
  • Uwe Hillen - , MVZ Dermatopathologie Duisburg Essen GmbH (Author)
  • Ulrike Leiter - , University Hospital Tübingen (Author)

Abstract

Purpose Data on treatment approaches in geriatric melanoma patients are scant. Efficacy of oncologic treatments across age groups, with special focus on immunotherapy, and the impact of comorbidities were analyzed. Methods A retrospective multicenter cohort study of the ADOREG registry included patients with cutaneous melanoma, who received oncological drugs at German skin cancer centers between 2013 and 2023. Outcomes were objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), melanoma-specific survival (MSS), toxicities and reasons for treatment discontinuation. Age groups were prespecified as < 75 vs ≥ 75 years (geriatric), comorbidities were summarized by Charlson-Comorbidity-Index (CCI). Comparisons across groups were conducted with X2-test, survival outcomes were compared via log-rank tests. Results Of 14,356 melanoma patients, 8213 met the inclusion criteria, 6063 and 2150 were < 75 and ≥ 75 years old, respectively. Among the 3646 patients with metastatic disease, older patients received fewer treatment lines and were less likely to undergo surgery, radiotherapy and systemic therapy. However, efficacy of any first-line treatment did not differ between both age groups (p = 0.306). Immunotherapy selection at any line was similar in both groups (p = 0.109), but geriatrics were treated mainly with first-line anti-PD1 monotherapy, whereas combination ICIs was preferred in younger patients. Efficacy was not impaired (PFS and MSS: p > 0.05), while toxicity rates were lower. This pattern persisted across CCI categories. Conclusion Age influenced treatment selection in melanoma patients. However, in geriatric patients, efficacy was not impaired, and a balanced toxicity profile was noticed, particularly for immunotherapy. Future studies considering biological age and impairment by comorbidities seems important to assess individualized treatment approaches.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number116582
JournalEuropean journal of cancer
Volume237
Publication statusPublished - 26 Mar 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 41747313
ORCID /0000-0003-4340-9706/work/210355489

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Age, Geriatric, Immunotherapy, Melanoma, Survival, Toxicities