Merkel cell carcinoma : Treatment and outcomes

The purpose of the current study was to determine the outcomes of patients with previously untreated Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin who were treated with curative intent. Between October 1984 and January 2002, 34 patients were treated with radiotherapy alone (2 patients) or combined with surgery...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inCancer Vol. 104; no. 8; pp. 1761 - 1764
Main Authors MCAFEE, William J, MORRIS, Christopher G, MENDENHALL, Charles M, WERNING, John W, MENDENHALL, Nancy Price, MENDENHALL, William M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, NY Wiley-Liss 15.10.2005
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell - drug therapy
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell - radiotherapy
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell - surgery
Carcinoma, Merkel Cell - therapy
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
Combined Modality Therapy
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Skin Neoplasms - drug therapy
Skin Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Skin Neoplasms - surgery
Skin Neoplasms - therapy
Survival Rate
Treatment Outcome
Tumors
Cancerology
Carcinoma
Prognosis
Treatment
treatment outcomes
Merkel cell carcinoma
Merkel cell
Malignant tumor
Radiotherapy
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:The purpose of the current study was to determine the outcomes of patients with previously untreated Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin who were treated with curative intent. Between October 1984 and January 2002, 34 patients were treated with radiotherapy alone (2 patients) or combined with surgery (32 patients). Nine patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients had follow-up for a median of 3.0 years (range, 0.3 to 18.5 yrs). Follow-up on living patients ranged from 2.2 to 18.5 years (median, 7.1 yrs). The 5-year outcomes were as follows: local control, 94%, locoregional control, 80%; freedom from distant metastases, 60%; cause-specific survival, 52%; and survival, 37%. No patient experienced a severe complication. Patients treated aggressively with surgery and locoregional radiotherapy have about a 50% chance of cure. Limited data suggest that definitive radiotherapy alone or after incomplete macroscopic resection may control locoregional disease in a significant subset of patients. The dominant site of failure was distant.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0008-543X
1097-0142
DOI:10.1002/cncr.21355