Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Cutaneous melanoma is among the most prevalent malignancies in the United States. Traditional prognosis systems have limitations in providing individualized profiles. The 31-gene expression profiling (31-GEP) test has been validated as an independent predictor of metastatic recurrence and can accurately inform the decision to recommend sentinel lymph node biopsy. Despite published data, there remains a lack of clarity regarding how and when the test should be used in everyday clinical practice. The purpose of this expert consensus panel was to review published literature on the clinical efficacy, utility, and accuracy of the 31-GEP test in providing prognostic information for invasive melanoma. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was completed using a combination of keywords “31-gene expression profiling,” “melanoma,” “prognosis,” “clinical efficacy,” and “clinical utility”. A panel of 10 dermatologists with significant expertise in management of melanoma gathered to review the articles and create consensus statements. A modified Delphi process was used to approve each statement, which requires a supermajority approval for adoption of a recommendation through multiple rounds of real-time voting, and a strength of recommendation was assigned. Results: The literature search produced 150 articles. A screening of the studies resulted in 26 articles that met criteria. The panel unanimously voted to adopt nine consensus statements and recommendations regarding use of 31-GEP testing: eight with strength of “A”, and one with strength of “C”. Conclusion: Following a comprehensive review of existing literature, this expert panel agreed that there is strong support for the use of 31-GEP testing to provide prognostic information for invasive melanoma. The 31-GEP test has been shown to provide prognostic information when the thickness/other traditional factors are unknown, statistically improve prognosis assessment when added to AJCC8 staging, and patients who have received the test have improved melanoma specific mortality and overall survival. The expert panel believes that the robust existing literature strongly supports its use as a best practice for the appropriate melanoma patient.
Source: Dermatology Online Journal
DOI: 10.25251/c81v6j23
Authors: Joshua Burshtein, Clay Cockerell, David Cotter, Aaron Farberg, Laura Ferris, Mark Kaufmann, Sancy Leachman, Jason Rizzo, Todd Schlesinger, Milaan Shah, Lauren DeBusk, Angela Rosenberg, Brooke Bartley, Mark Lebwohl, Darrell Rigel
Language: English
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $300
OpenAlex ID: W7108229463
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