Table 1. Associations of TERT mutation status with clinical and pathological parameters in conjunctival melanoma.
| Parameter | Level | TERT wild-type (n=26) | TERT mutant (n=12) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median age (years) |
|
67.2 |
73.3 |
0.72a |
| Sex |
Female |
15 |
6 |
1.00 |
| |
Male |
10 |
5 |
|
| Sites of involvementb | ||||
| Bulbar | No | 11 | 8 | 0.13 |
| Yes | 12 | 2 | ||
| Caruncle | No | 20 | 5 | 0.043 |
| Yes | 2 | 4 | ||
| Fornix | No | 16 | 6 | 1.00 |
| Yes | 6 | 2 | ||
| Sclera | No | 23 | 9 | 0.51 |
| Yes | 1 | 1 | ||
| Palpebra | No | 19 | 6 | 0.32 |
| Yes | 3 | 3 | ||
| Multifocal | No | 16 | 4 | 0.14 |
| |
Yes |
7 |
6 |
|
| Clinical stage | Ia | 5 | 1 | 0.20 |
| Ib | 7 | 1 | ||
| IIa | 0 | 1 | ||
| IIb | 6 | 2 | ||
| IIc | 0 | 2 | ||
| IId | 1 | 0 | ||
| IIIa | 1 | 1 | ||
| |
IIIb |
3 |
2 |
|
| Pathological stage | I | 1 | 0 | 0.19 |
| Ia | 5 | 2 | ||
| Ib | 3 | 0 | ||
| Ic | 3 | 0 | ||
| IIa | 4 | 1 | ||
| IIb | 1 | 0 | ||
| IIc | 1 | 4 | ||
| |
III |
4 |
3 |
|
| Associated lesion | PAM | 15 | 6 | 0.47 |
| Naevus | 3 | 1 | ||
| |
De novo |
5 |
1 |
|
| Cell type | Mixed | 13 | 3 | 0.22 |
| Spindle | 3 | 3 | ||
| |
Epithelioid |
3 |
3 |
|
| Pigmentation | Yes | 20 | 8 | 0.52 |
| |
No |
1 |
1 |
|
| NRAS mutation | No | 24 | 9 | 0.30 |
| |
Yes |
2 |
3 |
|
| BRAF mutation | No | 20 | 8 | 0.69 |
| |
Yes |
6 |
4 |
|
| Disease-free survival |
1.25 (0.47–3.35)c |
24d |
18d |
0.65e |
| Overall survival | 1.92 (0.60–6.08)c | NRd | 89d | 0.27e |
Abbreviations: NR=not reached; PAM=primary acquired melanosis.
P-values are derived from χ2 or Fisher's exact tests, as appropriate, unless otherwise specified.
Clinical and pathological stage is according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for conjunctival melanoma, 7th edition.
Note: The sum of the numbers of cases for individual parameters may not equal the total number of cases because data for some parameters was not available in all cases.
Kruskal–Wallis test.
Sites of involvement refer to structures affected by the tumour, either primarily or secondarily. Only tumours of conjunctival origin were included in the study.
Hazard ratio (95% confidence interval for hazard ratio).
Estimates of median survival (in months), derived from Kaplan–Meier method.
P-values, derived from univariate Cox regression analysis.