Merkel cell cancer natural history

Merkel cell cancer Microchapters
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmad Al Maradni, M.D. [2]

Overview

Merkel cell cancer is an aggressive skin tumor that grows rapidly. It usually metastasizes first to regional lymph nodes and then to other distant organs. and spreads to other parts of the body, especially the liver, lungs, brain and bones. Merkel cell carcinoma is a highly aggressive tumor with a mortality rate that approaches 30% to 40% within 3 years of diagnosis. If diagnosed early, Merkel cell cancer has a good prognosis with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 90%.

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

Natural History

• Merkel cell cancer is an aggressive skin tumor that grows rapidly.
• It usually metastasizes first to regional lymph nodes and then to other distant organs. and spreads to other parts of the body, especially the liver, lungs, brain and bones.

Complications

Common complications of [disease name] include:

• [Complication 1]
• [Complication 2]
• [Complication 3]

Prognosis

• Merkel cell carcinoma is a highly aggressive tumor with a mortality rate that approaches 30% to 40% within 3 years of diagnosis.
• If diagnosed early, merkel cell cancer has a good prognosis with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 90%.
• The prognosis depend on the following:
  • Stage at diagnosis (1st most potent prognostic factor)
  • Lymph Node involvement (2nd most important prognostic factor)
  • Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) viral load also play an significant role in prognosis of merkel cell cancer
  • Cancer location
  • Cancer depth
  • Primary vs recurrent
• Lymphovascular invasion in merkel cell cancer patients associated with poor prognosis
• Intratumoral lymphocyte infiltration in merkel cell cancer patients associated with good prognosis due to presence of CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration
• p63 expression