p63 expression in Merkel cell carcinoma predicts poorer survival yet may have limited clinical utility.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical utility of p63 expression, which has been identified in several cohorts as a predictor of poorer prognosis in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry was used to determine p63 expression on MCC tumors from 128 patients.


RESULTS
Of the patients, 33% had detectable p63 expression. p63 Positivity was associated with an increased risk of death from MCC (hazard ratio, 2.05; P = .02) in a multivariate Cox regression model considering stage at presentation, age at diagnosis, and sex. Although p63 expression correlated with diminished survival in this largest cohort reported thus far, the effect was weaker than that observed in prior studies. Indeed, within a given stage, p63 status did not predict survival in a clinically or statistically significant manner.


CONCLUSIONS
It remains unclear whether this test should be integrated into routine MCC patient management.
University of Washington, 850 Republican St, Seattle, WA 98109; e-mail: pnghiem@u.washington.edu.
Galina Y
GY
Stetsenko
Jacqueline
J
Malekirad
Kelly G
KG
Paulson
Jayasri G
JG
Iyer
Renee M
RM
Thibodeau
Kotaro
K
Nagase
Miranda
M
Schmidt
Barry E
BE
Storer
Zsolt B
ZB
Argenyi
Paul
P
Nghiem
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C081876:CKAP4 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins
Merkel cell carcinoma; Prognosis; Survival; p63