A Comprehensive Review of the Treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon but malignant cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma with a high incidence of local recurrence, regional lymph node metastases, and subsequent distant metastases. The etiology of MCC remains unknown. It usually occurs in sun-exposed areas in elderly people, many of whom have a history of other synchronous or metachronous sun-associated skin lesions. The outcome for most patients with MCC is generally poor. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. The role of adjuvant therapy has been debated. However, data from recent development support a multimodality approach, including surgical excision of primary tumor with adequate margins and sentinel lymph node dissection followed by postoperative radiotherapy in most cases, as current choice of practice with better locoregional control and disease-free survival. Patients with regional nodal involvement or advanced disease should undergo nodal dissection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and, perhaps, systemic platinum-based chemotherapy in most cases.

Multimodality management for 145 cases of Merkel cell carcinoma

“…Most patients with regional nodal involvement or advanced disease should undergo nodal dissection followed by adjuvant RT to both primary and nodal regions and, perhaps, platinum-based chemotherapy [18][19][20][21]. Adjuvant RT has been shown to decrease markedly local or regional recurrences and thereby to increase survival, according to recent studies [22].…”

Unusual association of Merkel-cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma in alcohol and hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis: Casual or causal relation?

“…[7] Since MCC is a neuroendocrine tumour, it demonstrates chemosensitivity to agents used in treating small-cell lung cancer, such as carboplatin, vincristine, and etoposide, but the role of chemotherapy is much less established than that of radiotherapy. [7,8] Our patient was known to have chronic hepatitis C infection, which can induce malignant transformation. By far, the commonest malignant transformation in chronic hepatitis C patients is the development of HCC.…”

Carcinoma de células de Merkel: revisão de literatura

“…Estes números vêm aumentando provavelmente devido ao avanço da idade da população, aumento da exposição a luz solar e ao aumento do número de indivíduos imunocomprometidos. 4,5 Feng et al descreveram recentemente um polyomavirus isolado incidência em pacientes imunocomprometidos. Os autores vírus em 16% dos casos.…”