Navigating Recent Progressions in Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Abstract
Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and highly aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer, characterized by rapid growth, early metastasis, and high mortality rates. Despite accounting for less than 1% of all skin cancers worldwide, its aggressive nature and association with immunosuppression, advanced age, UV exposure, and Merkel cell polyomavirus (McPyV) underscore its clinical significance. Modern diagnostic advancements, including sentinel lymph node biopsy and ctDNA assays, improve early detection and monitoring. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as avelumab, pembrolizumab, and nivolumab, have revolutionized the therapeutic landscape, delivering durable responses and improved survival. Combination therapies and experimental agents, like Retifanlimab and anti-LAG-3 inhibitors, offer hope for addressing resistant cases. Despite these advances, MCC presents significant challenges, including diagnostic delays, treatment resistance, and immunotherapy-associated toxicities. Chemotherapy remains an option but offers limited and transient benefits compared to immunotherapy. Early detection, advanced molecular profiling, and personalized therapies are crucial for optimizing outcomes. This review provides a comprehensive summary of MCC's clinical and molecular characteristics, current treatment paradigms, and ongoing research, highlighting the pressing need for continued innovation and research. Effective interventions are critical to improving survival rates and addressing the unique challenges posed by this aggressive malignancy.
Keywords: Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA), Immunotherapy, Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC), Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (McPyV), Sentinel Lymph node biopsy (SLNB).
Keywords:
Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA), Immunotherapy, Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC), Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (McPyV), Sentinel Lymph node biopsy (SLNB)DOI
https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v15i3.7045References
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