Role of adrenalectomy in multidisciplinary management of patients with melanoma metastatic to the adrenal gland

Modern systemic therapy has improved survival for patients with metastatic melanoma. A retrospective trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) investigated the role of adrenalectomy in patients receiving systemic therapy for melanoma with adrenal metastasis. Patients undergoing adrenalectomy had longer overall survival from initial diagnosis (A) and from diagnosis of adrenal metastasis (B) compared with patients receiving systemic therapy only. On multivariate analysis, receipt ofimmune checkpoint blockade and selection for adrenalectomy were the strongest factors associated with improved survival after adrenal metastasis diagnosis. The authors conclude that selective application of adrenal metastasectomy was associated with prolonged survival.