Abstract
Clinical features and therapeutic survival rate were analyzed in terms of patients' age difference on 2065 malignant melanoma patients in Japan, accumulated during 1987-2001. Nodular melanoma, and especially acral lentiginous melanoma and lentigo maligna melanoma increases in number according to the increase in the patients' age. Superficial spreading melanoma is most frequent in the age range of 40-59 years. Melanomas on sun-exposed areas, which occupy13% of all melanomas, increase in number according to the increase in age. In contrast, melanomas on the trunk, which occupy 14% of melanomas, are most frequent in the age range of 50-59 years. DAV-IFN-β combined therapy results in better survival rates in patients undergoing the therapy than those without it. The survival rate is remarkable in those of the age rage of 40-59 years. This result further supports the recommendation of IFN-β adjuvant chemotherapy for melanoma patients, especially for those who are middle-aged.[Skin Cancer (Japan) 2009 ; 24 : 258-266]
