title: Neoadjuvant polychemotherapy in locally advanced Merkel cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A 72-year-old man presented with a Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the left cheek with concomitant nodal spread. A 61-year-old man presented with an MCC of the right thigh with rapid nodal recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin biopsy samples proved the MCC nature of the neoplasm in both patients. Staging procedure included clinical and radiological investigations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Advanced stage II MCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neoadjuvant cisplatin, etoposide and cyclophosphamide (EPC) regimen led to local control in the first patient and allowed curative surgery associated with adjuvant radiation therapy. Complete remission was maintained for 32 months. The second patient was treated by surgery plus radiation therapy. Nodal and cutaneous recurrences were treated with a neoadjuvant EPC regimen leading to a 5-year complete remission.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Skin Cancer Unit, St André's Hospital, Bordeaux, France. thomas.jouary@chu-bordeaux.fr
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jouary
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lalanne
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siberchicot
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ricard
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Versapuech
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lepreux
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Delaunay
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taieb
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D012074:Remission Induction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin
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