MSG/BAPS

Disease site: Melanoma

Treatment Modality: Surgery

Status: In active follow-up

The United Kingdom Melanoma Study Group and the British Association of Plastic Surgeons (MSG/BAPS) multi-centre randomised trial of surgical width of excision margin in patients with thick cutaneous malignant melanoma, recruited 900 patients between 1993 and 2001 to determine the optimal margin of excision. Eligible patients with a single primary histological diagnosis of malignant melanoma 2mm Breslow thickness were randomised to a 1cm or 3cm surgical excision margin. In addition to the UK, patients were recruited from Poland and South Africa and the trial was run in collaboration with the Scottish Cancer Therapy Network.

Publication of the analysis performed after a median follow-up of 60 months concluded that a 1cm margin for excision of melanoma is associated with a significantly greater risk of loco-regional recurrence but that there was little difference in overall survival between the two groups. Pending analysis after longer term follow up, the authors of the publication recommended that patients be given the choice after informed discussions of the surgical options, but that it may be prudent to use a 3cm margin excision in patients with deeper tumours.

Chief Investigator: Mr J. M. Thomas, Royal Marsden Hospital, London. [Project No.0889]

Source of funding: North Thames NHS R&D, BUPA Foundation, BAPS.

ISCRTN: 13411879.

Publications

Thomas, Newton-Bishop, A’Hern et al, 2004. N Engl J Med 350: 757-766. A surgical excision margin width in high risk (thickness 2 mm) cutaneous malignant melanoma: A Randomised Trial of 1cm vs 3cm excision margin in 900 patients

Newton-Bishop, Nolan, Turner et al, 2004. J Invest Dermatol Symp Proc 9: 152-159 . A Quality of Life Study in High Risk (thickness 2mm) cutaneous Malignant Melanoma patients in a randomised trial of 1cm vs 3cm surgical excision margins

Meirion Thomas, Newton-Bishop, Timmons et al, 2002. Proceedings of ASCO 2002 Vol 21 p 340a. A randomised trial of 1cm vs 3 cm excision margin in 900 patients