title: Merkel cell carcinoma: Epidemiology, prognosis, therapy and unmet medical needs.
abstract: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare skin cancer that is associated with Merkel cell polyomavirus infection in most cases. Incidence rates of MCC have increased in past decades. Risk factors for MCC include ultraviolet light exposure, immunosuppression and advanced age. MCC is an aggressive malignancy with frequent recurrences and a high mortality rate, although patient outcomes are generally more favourable if the patient is referred for treatment at an early stage. Although advances have been made recently in the MCC field, large gaps remain with regard to definitive biomarkers and prognostic indicators. Although MCC is chemosensitive, responses in advanced stages are mostly of short duration, and the associated clinical benefit on overall survival is unclear. Recent nonrandomised phase 2 clinical trials with anti-PD-L1/PD-1 antibodies have demonstrated safety and efficacy; however, there are still no approved treatments for patients with metastatic MCC. Patients with advanced disease are encouraged to participate in clinical trials for treatment, indicating the largely unmet need for durable, safe treatment within this population.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology, Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany; German Cancer Consortium Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany. Electronic address: Dirk.schadendorf@uk-essen.de.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schadendorf
authors.affiliation: APHP, Dermatology and CIC, Hôpital Saint-Louis, INSERM U976, University Paris 7 Diderot, Paris, France. Electronic address: celeste.lebbe@sls.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Céleste
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lebbé
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands. Electronic address: axel.zurhausen@mumc.nl.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zur Hausen
authors.affiliation: APHP, Hôpital Cochin, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France. Electronic address: marie-francoise.avril@aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Marie-Françoise
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Avril
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Inc, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: s.hariharan@pfizer.com.
authors.forename: Subramanian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hariharan
authors.affiliation: Merck KGaA, Global Evidence & Value Development, Darmstadt, Germany. Electronic address: murtuza.bharmal@merckgroup.com.
authors.forename: Murtuza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bharmal
authors.affiliation: Translational Skin Cancer Research (TSCR), German Cancer Consortium Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, Dermatology, Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany. Electronic address: j.becker@dkfz-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: Jürgen C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Epidemiology; Merkel cell carcinoma; Merkel cell polyomavirus; Prognosis; Skin cancer; Therapy