| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
ORIGINAL ARTICLES |
From the Departments of Surgical Oncology (HM-F, MMU, MJH, SWB) and Radiation Oncology (JF), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Correspondence: Dr. Samuel W. Beenken, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 321 Kracke Building, 1922 Seventh Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233; Fax: 205-975-5971.
Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an unusual and potentially aggressive cancer of the skin. There is no consensus regarding the optimal therapeutic approach, and the relative roles of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy still are controversial The aim of this study is to analyze the roles of these therapeutic options.
Methods: The medical records of 16 patients with a diagnosis of localized, primary MCC treated at the University of Alabama at Birmingham were reviewed. An extensive review of the English-language literature also was performed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to develop the survival curves. Comparisons were made using Fisher’s exact test. Significance was defined as P < .05.
Results: MCC presented primarily in Caucasians (98.3%) with a median age of 69 years. Immunosuppressive therapy appeared to play a role in the development of this cancer. In the UAB experience, 3-year actuarial survival was 31%. The only factor significantly associated with overall survival was the stage of disease at presentation: median survivals were 97 vs. 15 months for stages I and II, respectively (log-rank, P = .02). From the literature review, adjuvant radiotherapy was associated with a reduced risk of local recurrence (P < .00001).
Conclusions: MCC is an aggressive cancer, with a high tendency for local recurrence and distant spread. Surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy appear to provide optimal local control. The role of chemotherapy remains to be defined.
Key Words: Merkel cell carcinoma • Surgery • Radiotherapy • Prognosis
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  M. Petkovic, M. Krstulja, J. Radic, G. Zamolo, D. Muhvic, I. Lovasic, M. Kujundzic, and A. Franko Merkel Cell Carcinoma Arising in the Ear Canal International Journal of Surgical Pathology, July 1, 2008; 16(3): 337 - 340. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. M. Busse, J. R. Clark, V. V. Muse, and V. Liu Case 19-2008 -- A 63-Year-Old HIV-Positive Man with Cutaneous Merkel-Cell Carcinoma N. Engl. J. Med., June 19, 2008; 358(25): 2717 - 2723. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. M. Lewis, J. S. Zager, D. Yu, D. Pelaez, A. I. Riker, S. Dessureault, C. W. Cruse, D. S. Reintgen, C. A. Puleo, and V. K. Sondak Full-Thickness Grafts Procured from Skin Overlying the Sentinel Lymph Node Basin; Reconstruction of Primary Cutaneous Malignancy Excision Defects Ann. Surg. Oncol., June 1, 2008; 15(6): 1733 - 1740. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. M. Housman, R. H. Decker, and L. D. Wilson Regarding Adjuvant Radiation Therapy in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Selection Bias and Its Affect on Overall Survival J. Clin. Oncol., October 1, 2007; 25(28): 4503 - 4504. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D Pectasides, M Pectasides, and T Economopoulos Merkel cell cancer of the skin Ann. Onc., October 1, 2006; 17(10): 1489 - 1495. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. A. Howard, G. M. Dores, R. E. Curtis, W. F. Anderson, and L. B. Travis Merkel cell carcinoma and multiple primary cancers. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., August 1, 2006; 15(8): 1545 - 1549. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. G. Gupta, L. C. Wang, P. F. Penas, M. Gellenthin, S. J. Lee, and P. Nghiem Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Evaluation and Treatment of Patients With Merkel Cell Carcinoma: The Dana-Farber Experience and Meta-analysis of the Literature. Arch Dermatol, June 1, 2006; 142(6): 685 - 690. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. J. Veness Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Improved Outcome With the Addition of Adjuvant Therapy J. Clin. Oncol., October 1, 2005; 23(28): 7235 - 7236. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. J. Allen, W. B. Bowne, D. P. Jaques, M. F. Brennan, K. Busam, and D. G. Coit Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Prognosis and Treatment of Patients From a Single Institution J. Clin. Oncol., April 1, 2005; 23(10): 2300 - 2309. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
