Diagnosis Stage and Treatment Landscape of Patients with Malignant Melanoma in Germany: A Retrospective Descriptive Analysis of Cancer Registry Data from 2020–2024

Abstract

This research project is designed as a retrospective, descriptive analysis of anonymized routine data from clinical cancer registries in Germany. The study will include adult patients with a primary diagnosis of malignant melanoma of the skin (ICD-10-GM code C43) diagnosed between 2020 and 2024. The project aims to generate contemporary real-world evidence on the stage distribution and treatment pathways of patients with malignant melanoma in Germany. The analysis will describe disease stage at initial diagnosis and over time using the staging information available in the registry data, including UICC stage, TNM categories, and supplementary free-text entries for other classification systems. In addition, the study will characterize documented surgical and local treatment measures, including excision of the primary tumor, residual status, lymphadenectomy, and radiotherapy. A further objective is to describe neoadjuvant and adjuvant systemic therapies after excision of the primary tumor, stratified by residual status, including documented treatment classes and substances such as anti-PD-1 antibodies and BRAF/MEK inhibitors. By linking staging information with documented treatment variables, the project seeks to reconstruct clinically meaningful patient groups and describe real-world treatment patterns in relation to disease stage. The findings are intended to improve understanding of the current care situation for patients with malignant melanoma in Germany, provide insight into the implementation of stage-adapted treatment strategies in routine clinical practice, and identify potential areas for further research.