title: Merkel cell carcinoma:  recent insights and new treatment options.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin demonstrating a high propensity of recurrence and metastasis. Its 5-year disease-specific survival rate is only about 60%. Although MCC is still regarded as a very rare tumor entity, its incidence is rapidly increasing. In this regard, the American Cancer Society estimated almost 1500 new cases in the United States in 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The newly identified Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) has been found associated to most MCC cases. Nevertheless, the distinct molecular pathogenesis of MCC and its link to MCV is not yet fully understood. Moreover, the impact of MCV positivity on the course of disease and prognosis of MCC patients is controversially discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review summarizes recent findings on MCC pathogenesis with a special emphasis on the impact of MCV, presents an overview of clinical aspects, and discusses treatment options.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schrama
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ugurel
authors.forename: Jürgen C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D059965:Merkel cell polyomavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015996:Survival Rate; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents