Comparable expression and phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein in Merkel cell polyoma virus positive and negative Merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare cutaneous carcinoma from the tactile Merkel cells. With fewer than half the patients surviving more than one year and fewer than 20% surviving beyond five years. These tumors are rarely suspected until the biopsy results return. Polyoma virus is associated with up to 80% of the tumors. 53% present on the head and neck and 35% present on the extremities while larger lesions are exceedingly rare in either location. Recently, A newly approved drug, Avelumab, has shown tumor response in patients with some patients experiencing complete remission.

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Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection, Large T Antigen, Retinoblastoma Protein and Outcome in Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Clinical Cancer Research ◽

10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-10-3363 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (14) ◽

pp. 4806-4813 ◽

Cited By ~ 108

Author(s):

Harri Sihto ◽

Heli Kukko ◽

Virve Koljonen ◽

Risto Sankila ◽

Tom Böhling ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽

Retinoblastoma Protein ◽

T Antigen ◽

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus ◽

Merkel Cell ◽

Large T Antigen

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An intact retinoblastoma protein-binding site in Merkel cell polyomavirus large T antigen is required for promoting growth of Merkel cell carcinoma cells

International Journal of Cancer ◽

10.1002/ijc.26076 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 130 (4) ◽

pp. 847-856 ◽

Cited By ~ 136

Author(s):

Roland Houben ◽

Christian Adam ◽

Anne Baeurle ◽

Sonja Hesbacher ◽

Johannes Grimm ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protein Binding ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Binding Site ◽

Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽

Retinoblastoma Protein ◽

T Antigen ◽

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus ◽

Carcinoma Cells ◽

Merkel Cell ◽

Large T Antigen

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Merkel Cell Carcinoma Treatment in Finland in 1986–2016—A Real-World Data Study

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers12051224 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 1224

Author(s):

Helka Sahi ◽

Jenny Their ◽

Mika Gissler ◽

Virve Koljonen

Keyword(s):

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Merkel Cell Carcinoma ◽

Real World ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Merkel Cell ◽

Real World Data ◽

World Data ◽

Treatment Data ◽

Late Group ◽

Merkel Cell Polyoma Virus

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous carcinoma that has gained enormous interest since the discovery of Merkel cell polyoma virus, which is a causative oncogenic agent in the majority of MCC tumours. Increased research has focused on effective treatment options with immuno-oncology. In this study, we reviewed the real-world data on different treatments given to MCC patients in Finland in 1986–2016. We used the Finnish Cancer Registry database to find MCC patients and the Hospital Discharge Register and the Cause-of-Death Register to obtain treatment data. We identified 376 MCC patients and 33 different treatment entities and/or combinations of treatment. An increase was noted in the incidence of MCC since 2005. Therefore, the cohort was divided into two groups: the “early“ group with time of diagnosis between years 1986 and 2004 and the “late” group with time of diagnosis between 2005 and 2016. The multitude of different treatment combinations is a relatively new phenomenon; before the year 2005, only 11 treatments or treatment combinations were used for MCC patients. Our data show that combining radiation therapy with simple excision provided a survival advantage, which was, however, lost after adjustment for stage or age. Our registry study serves as a baseline treatment efficacy comparison as we move into the age of immunotherapy in MCC. Standardizing the treatment of MCC patients in Finland requires more work on awareness and multidisciplinary co-operation.

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