Merkel cell carcinoma : Treatment and outcomes

• Published in: Cancer 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
• Language: English
• 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
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.21355
• ISSN: 0008-543X

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.