Concurrent Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Merkel Cell Carcinoma in Primary Skin Tumor and Metastatic Lymph Node

Abstract

Association between chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other malignancies has been known for a long time. This epidemiological phenomenon is explained by immunosuppression caused by disease itself or by the applied therapy. Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor of the skin of neuroendocrine origin diagnosed almost exclusively in immunocompromised host. We presented an unique case of coexisting infiltration of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells within primary cutaneous Merkel cell carcinoma and metastatic lymph node in young HIV-negative female patient.

Merkel cell carcinoma on the right calf in association with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A case report

“…They declared that 6 months after the surgery of the MCC lesion, the presentation of lymphadenopathy at the same site confirmed the MCC relapse. 15 Besides, Popovic et al 17 reported a nonimmunosuppress host of CLL with secondary MCC. On the other hand, a study among 1306 patients with MCC and 2048739 patients with other primary cancers showed that those with primary MCC were at 1.22 times higher risk of developing subsequent cancers (at salivatory, liver, or gallbladder), especially at the first year of diagnosis but CLL was not significantly associated with primary MCC.…”

Clinical Relevance of Liquid Biopsy in Melanoma and Merkel Cell Carcinoma

“…MCPyV was first described in 2008 by Feng et al [126], and is the first human polyomavirus clearly linked to a human cancer [127]. Moreover, its epidemiological link with immunosuppressive conditions, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia and solid organ transplantation, is well established [128,129].…”