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Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Epidemiology, Target, and Therapy.

ABSTRACT: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine tumor of the skin with a rising incidence. MCC has metastatic potential regardless the size of the primary tumor and a 5-year disease associated mortality rate is 46 %. Surgery and radiation are the mainstays of management for primary MCC. There is no evidence-based effective chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic diseases to date. In-depth mechanistic studies in MCC have uncovered important cellular events and the association with a polyomavirus, which has provided direct evidence for molecular targeted and immunotherapy. Further perspective studies and clinical trials are warranted to provide reliable evidence of possible pitfalls and effectiveness of molecular targeted immunotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy in MCC.

SUBMITTER: Hughes MP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3931972 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Epidemiology, Target, and Therapy.

Hughes Mathew P MP Hardee Matthew E ME Cornelius Lynn A LA Hutchins Laura F LF Becker Jurgen C JC Gao Ling L

Current dermatology reports 20140122

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive neuroendocrine tumor of the skin with a rising incidence. MCC has metastatic potential regardless the size of the primary tumor and a 5-year disease associated mortality rate is 46 %. Surgery and radiation are the mainstays of management for primary MCC. There is no evidence-based effective chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic diseases to date. In-depth mechanistic studies in MCC have uncovered important cellular events and the association with a ...[more]

PMID: 24587977

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Merkel cell polyomavirus-specific immune responses in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma receiving anti-PD-1 therapy.

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