Therapeutic options for treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare malignant neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. Owing to the aggressiveness of this tumor and the bad overall survival, we reviewed the therapeutic strategies, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy to find out the potentially best treatment option for one patient treated at our hospital. In addition, we investigated MCC biopsies using the FLAVINO assay to find out if individual chemoresponse testing might be a useful supplement in decision-making for the optimal therapeutic option for our MCC patient. The different results achieved using cisplatin, docetaxel, and cetuximab led to the conclusion that an individual chemoresponse testing in a predictive short-time assay might potentially be a useful diagnostic tool in identifying potentially effective chemotherapy treatments.

Evaluation of Polo‐like kinase 1 as a potential therapeutic target in Merkel cell carcinoma

“…Furthermore, several studies indicate an improved locoregional control when irradiation is used in an adjuvant setting . In contrast, systematic therapy is predominantly preserved for patients with locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic disease . Because PLK1 is currently in the focus of cancer due to its role in cell cycle progression, we set out to interrogate the feasibility of targeting PLK1 in MCC.…”

“…Treatment of MCC includes either surgical resection of the primary tumor alone in early‐stage disease, or surgery in combination with radiotherapy. Chemotherapy is reserved for patients with distant metastatic disease …”

Sentinel lymph node status in Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck: Not a predictor of survival

“…Melanoma and MCC are both aggressive, neuroendocrine‐derived cutaneous neoplasms that are associated with a high rate of regional and distant metastasis. Positive lymph node disease at presentation is an indicator of poor outcomes for both, significantly reducing 5‐year survival rates to less than 50%; and, unfortunately, melanoma and MCC are both known to respond poorly to systemic therapy …”

Merkel Cell Carcinoma of Left Groin: A Case Report and Literature Review

“…Immunohistochemistry is a valuable method to establish a definitive differentiation between MCC and other closely related skin neoplasms [16]. Generally, MCC cells express both epithelial and neuroendocrine markers.…”