Epidemiological and genetic insights into the co-occurrence of cutaneous melanoma and hematologic malignancies: A meta-analytic review

Background

The number of cancer survivors has been increasing in recent years due to advancements in early diagnosis and prolonged survival. Existing literature suggests a connection between cutaneous melanoma (CM) and hematologic malignancies (HM).

Aim

This study aims to examine epidemiological research on the link between CM and HM and explore genetic, biological, and environmental factors contributing to this association.

Methodology

A literature review and meta-analysis were performed to evaluate the risk of CM following HM and vice versa. Data from included studies, which reported standardized incidence ratios (SIR) or hazard ratios (HR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI), were pooled using a random effects model. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using I² and Cochrane Q test statistics.

The incidence data were pooled using a random effects model. This review is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022359887).

Results

Ten studies focused on HM diagnosis in CM patients, comprising a combined cohort of 189,094 individuals and 11 focused on CM diagnosis in HM patients in a cohort of 306,967 individuals. The SIR for HM after CM ranged from 1.25 to 3.12, while the SIR for CM after HM ranged from 0.83 to 4.12. The pooled proportion of HM in CM patients was 62.4 %, and the proportion of CM in HM patients was 19.6 %. Statistical heterogeneity was high, with I² values of 99.19 % and 89.15 %, respectively.

Conclusion

This review confirms an association between CM and HM within the same patient. The link is primarily attributed to genetic factors involving BRAF-V600K, tyrosine kinase pathway genes, CDKN2A (P16), and BCL-2. Additionally, risk factors such as ultraviolet radiation and compromised immune function are associated with the incidence of these cancers.