title: Complete remission of Merkel cell carcinoma of the scalp with local and regional metastases after topical treatment with dinitrochlorbenzol.
abstract: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive tumor with a high percentage of recurrence, metastatic spread, and mortality. Treatment of metastasized MCC is not standardized and prognosis of metastasized MCC is often poor. Current protocols recommend surgery, adjuvant radiation therapy, and often lymph node dissection to prevent recurrences. A few sporadic reports of spontaneous regression of MCC suggest a so far not yet characterized role and potential of the immune system in controlling this tumor. We describe a 69-year-old man with extended inoperable MCC of the scalp including multiple local and regional metastases who responded with complete remission to 4 weekly treatments of topically applied immune-modulating dinitrochlorbenzol. Together with subsequent irradiation, remission has now lasted for more than 1 year.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology,, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Groth
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krieg
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mauch
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004137:Dinitrochlorobenzene / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012074:Remission Induction; D012535:Scalp; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004137:Dinitrochlorobenzene