Racial disparity in melanoma-specific survival (MSS) is worsening, with increasing disparity seen across all minority groups among patients with localized disease, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Yingzhi Qian, from New York University Longone Health in New York City, and colleagues examined the extent to which racial disparity in MSS has persisted since 2010. Data from 381,035 patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry were analyzed. The correlation between MSS and race was examined before the year 2000, from 2000 to 2009, and in 2010 or later.

The researchers found that MSS improved for most racial groups from the period before the year 2000 to the period of 2010 or later, but this improvement was most significant for non-Hispanic Whites. From before the year 2000 to 2010 or later, racial disparity worsened for Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander patients compared with non-Hispanic Whites. Increasing disparity was seen across all minority groups (Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander, and non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native) among patients with localized disease. For those with regional and distant disease, the only minority to experience worsening was Hispanic patients.

"The almost universal improvement in MSS across racial and ethnic groups is encouraging, but there is persistent and worsening racial disparity in outcomes," the authors write. "Based on our findings, identifying and mitigating barriers to postdiagnosis care is essential to further improve outcomes for minorities with early-stage disease."

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