The British journal of dermatology
September 19, 2026 · via Europe PMC
Beyond the Surface of Long-term Survival in Stage IV Melanoma: A Multicenter Cross-sectional Study.
Reitmajer M, Livingstone E, Schäffeler N, +19 more, Forschner A.
AI summary — for doctors, generated from the abstract only
About 40% of long-term stage IV melanoma survivors report persistent treatment-related adverse events and clinically elevated distress, with notable financial and work impacts.
What was studied
Online cross-sectional survey of 296 long-term survivors (>5 years after stage IV diagnosis) from 40 centres in Germany, Austria and Switzerland; ~80% had received immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Key findings
- ~40% reported distress above threshold and ~40% persistent TRAEs
- Persistent systemic-therapy TRAEs associated with elevated distress (OR 1.99, p=0.025)
- Cognitive deficits after cerebral radiotherapy and lymphoedema after surgery were common complaints
- 23% reported financial constraints; 44% of retirees retired early due to melanoma
Clinical relevance
This supports screening long-term melanoma survivors for persistent toxicity, distress and socioeconomic needs, though survey data are self-reported and possibly non-representative.
Who should care
Limitations
Self-selected online survey respondents, self-reported outcomes, and cross-sectional design limit generalizability and causal inference.
Surviving metastatic melanoma often leaves lasting physical, emotional and financial burdens.
This is an AI-generated summary of the published abstract, not a clinical recommendation. It may not reflect the full text or subsequent updates — verify against the original source before acting on it.
Abstract
Background
Since the approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and targeted therapies (TT), the number of long-term survivors of metastatic melanoma (LTS) has increased. However, data on their complaints and needs remain limited.
Objective
To examine the prevalence and spectrum of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), psycho-oncological distress, and socioeconomic outcomes in long-term survivors (LTS), to evaluate their association with elevated distress levels, and to determine whether these findings support the implementation of dedicated survivorship programmes.
Methods
Between April 15, 2024, and May 9, 2025. an online survey was conducted among LTS (overall survival >5 years after stage IV diagnosis) to assess potential TRAEs, financial burden, and psychosocial distress. Validated tools and disease-specific questions were used. All skin cancer centers within the German Dermatologic Cooperative Oncology Group (DeCOG) and patient support groups were invited.
Results
A total of 296 LTS from 40 centers in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland participated; approximately 30% had brain metastases. Nearly 80% of the patients had received ICI at any time point, and approximately 27% had received TT. Around 40% reported distress levels above the threshold and persistent TRAEs, respectively. Among patients with prior radiotherapy or surgery, about 30% reported persistent TRAEs for either treatment. Cognitive deficits after cerebral radiotherapy and lymph edema after surgery were the most frequently reported complaints. Persistent TRAEs due to systemic anti-tumor therapy were significantly associated with elevated distress values (OR = 1.99, p = 0.025). About 23% of the patients reported financial constraints. At the time of the survey, 62% of patients aged ≤65 years were still working, half with reduced hours and 44% of retirees had retired early due to melanoma.
Conclusion
A substantial proportion of LTS face persistent physical, psychosocial, and financial challenges. To address these unmet needs, the implementation of survivorship programs with validated screening and integrated vocational, financial, and psychological counseling is essential.
DOI
10.1093/bjd/ljag374
PMID
42760605
Research metadata (titles, abstracts, authors, publication dates) is sourced from Europe PMC, which aggregates content from PubMed/MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and other providers under the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM/NCBI). NLM does not claim copyright on abstracts; the original journal publishers or authors may hold rights to the full articles. AI-generated summaries are derived only from the abstract, never the full text, and are always labeled as AI-generated.
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