{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T14:42:42Z","timestamp":1782398562001,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"21","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,28]],"date-time":"2024-10-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1730073600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Melanoma is currently the most prevalent malignant neoplasm among adults and represents the second most common cancer in both sexes among individuals aged 0 to 39 years. This retrospective multicenter study delves into the distinctive clinical, anamnestic, histopathologic, and prognostic attributes of melanoma in Adolescent and Young Adults (AYA), defined as patients diagnosed at \u226440 years, across four Italian centers. Methods: Through a computer-based review of clinical records from 1 January 2010 to 30 September 2023, AYA melanomas were contrasted with non-AYA melanomas (&gt;40 years) among 1452 patients. Data on demographics, melanoma localization, histological type, Breslow thickness, ulceration, and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy status were meticulously collected and analyzed. Results: Our analysis revealed a female predominance in the AYA group and a male predominance in the non-AYA group, with significant differences in anatomical localization and histological types between the two. AYA melanomas showed nearly equal trunk and limb involvement, contrasting with the trunk predominance in non-AYA melanomas. While Breslow thickness was similar across both groups, the presence of ulceration and total number of nevi showed no significant difference. Survival analysis indicated a marginally higher Disease-Free Survival (DFS) in AYA patients compared to non-AYA patients, without a significant difference in Overall Survival (OS). Conclusions: This study highlights demographic and clinical distinctions between AYA and non-AYA melanoma patients, underscoring the need for tailored follow-up and treatment strategies. Despite these insights, the heterogeneity of melanoma among young adults calls for further research, including genetic analyses, to fully understand this unique melanoma subgroup. Indeed, AYA melanoma patients could represent a different and specific target for both follow-up and treatments.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm13216445","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,28]],"date-time":"2024-10-28T07:47:18Z","timestamp":1730101638000},"page":"6445","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Melanoma in Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs): An Italian Multi-Centric Retrospective Experience"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9140-9263","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mario","family":"Valenti","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, 20089 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0669-1442","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"D\u2019Arino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UOSD Dermatologia Oncologica, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, 00144 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Enrico","family":"Melis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, 20089 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8231-2205","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"Carugno","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Paolo","family":"Sena","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Unit, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, 21100 Bergamo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pasquale","family":"Frascione","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UOSD Dermatologia Oncologica, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, 00144 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carlo","family":"Cota","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UOSD Dermatopatologia e Biologia Molecolare ad Indirizzo Dermatologico, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, 00144 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francesco","family":"Piscazzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, 20089 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Santo Raffaele","family":"Mercuri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit of Dermatology IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vincenzo","family":"Russo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit of Immuno-Biotherapy of Melanoma and Solid Tumors, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giuseppe","family":"Damiano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UO Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandra","family":"Bulotta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UO Oncologia Medica, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8160-4169","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Angelo Valerio","family":"Marzano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca\u2019 Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universit\u00e0 Degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6532-5066","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Alessandra","family":"Mattioli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca\u2019 Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universit\u00e0 Degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5704-1220","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Riccardo G","family":"Borroni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandra","family":"Narcisi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Antonio","family":"Costanzo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, 20089 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marco","family":"Ardig\u00f2","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermatology Unit, 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