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Late Recurrence Is a Sign of Melanoma Dormancy: Need of Life-Long Follow-Up of Melanoma Patients

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Book cover Tumor Dormancy, Quiescence, and Senescence, Volume 1

Part of the book series: Tumor Dormancy and Cellular Quiescence and Senescence ((DOQU,volume 1))

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Abstract

Melanoma is the malignant tumor of melanocytes. The most common type is cutaneous melanoma on what we will focus. The demonstration of early spread of melanoma cells in animal models and the detection of circulating melanoma cells in patients with thin tumors argue against the dogma of metastasis as a late tumor event. On the other hand, late (≥10 years) recurrence has been observed in up to 3.5% of patients. The paradoxon of early spread and late metastasis argues for melanoma cell dormancy. Because late recurrence is not related to increased tumor thickness but may occur in tumors thinner than 0.5 mm, a life-long follow-up for all melanoma patients seems mandatory. Improved patient education in skin self-examination and easy availability of outpatient dermatology service are the most important tools.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Academic Teaching Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Dresden, Germany

    Uwe Wollina

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  1. Uwe Wollina
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Correspondence to Uwe Wollina .

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  1. , Kean University, Room 213, Library building, Morris Avenue 1000, Union, 07083, New Jersey, USA

    M.A. Hayat

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Wollina, U. (2013). Late Recurrence Is a Sign of Melanoma Dormancy: Need of Life-Long Follow-Up of Melanoma Patients. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Tumor Dormancy, Quiescence, and Senescence, Volume 1. Tumor Dormancy and Cellular Quiescence and Senescence, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5958-9_7

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