title: Merkel cell carcinoma.
abstract: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. More than one-third of MCC patients will die from this cancer, making it twice as lethal as malignant melanoma. Despite the fact that MCC is still a very rare tumor, its incidence is rapidly increasing; the American Cancer Society estimates for 2008 almost 1,500 new cases in the USA. These clinical observations are especially disturbing as the pathogenesis of MCC is not yet fully understood; however, a number of recent reports contribute to a better understanding of its pathogenesis. Here we describe findings regarding the role of Wnt, MAPK and Akt signaling as well as possible aberrations in the p14ARF/p53/RB tumor suppressor network in MCC. Most important, and possibly with high impact on future therapeutic approaches is the demonstration that a polyomavirus has frequently integrated in the genome of the MCC cells prior to tumor development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, Bld. D8, 97080 Würzburg, Germany. becker_jc@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schrama
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Houben
mesh_terms: D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011120:Polyomavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology