Merkel Cell Carcinoma: An Immunotherapy Fairy-Tale?

Enrica Teresa Tanda; Enrica Teresa Tanda; Agostina Lagodin d’Amato; Agostina Lagodin d’Amato; Giovanni Rossi; Giovanni Rossi; Elena Croce; Elena Croce; Andrea Boutros; Andrea Boutros; Federica Cecchi; Francesco Spagnolo; Paola Queirolo

doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.739006

Frontiers in Oncology (Sep 2021)

Merkel Cell Carcinoma: An Immunotherapy Fairy-Tale?

Enrica Teresa Tanda,
Enrica Teresa Tanda,
Agostina Lagodin d’Amato,
Agostina Lagodin d’Amato,
Giovanni Rossi,
Giovanni Rossi,
Elena Croce,
Elena Croce,
Andrea Boutros,
Andrea Boutros,
Federica Cecchi,
Francesco Spagnolo,
Paola Queirolo

Affiliations

Enrica Teresa Tanda: Genetics of Rare Cancers, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
Enrica Teresa Tanda: Medical Oncology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
Agostina Lagodin d’Amato: Medical Oncology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
Agostina Lagodin d’Amato: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
Giovanni Rossi: Medical Oncology, Ospedale Padre Antero Micone, Genova, Italy
Giovanni Rossi: Department on Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
Elena Croce: Medical Oncology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
Elena Croce: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
Andrea Boutros: Medical Oncology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
Andrea Boutros: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), School of Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
Federica Cecchi: Medical Oncology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
Francesco Spagnolo: Medical Oncology, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
Paola Queirolo: Division of Medical Oncology for Melanoma, Sarcoma, and Rare Tumors, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia (IEO), European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2021.739006
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11

Abstract

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Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, highly aggressive, neuroendocrine cutaneous tumor. The incidence of MCC is growing worldwide, and the disease-related mortality is about three-fold higher than melanoma. Since a few years ago, very little has been known about this disease, and chemotherapy has been the standard of care. Nowadays, new discoveries about the pathophysiology of this neoplasm and the introduction of immunotherapy allowed to completely rewrite the history of these patients. In this review, we provide a summary of the most important changes in the management of Merkel cell carcinoma, with a focus on immunotherapy and a landscape of future treatment strategies.

Published in Frontiers in Oncology

ISSN: 2234-943X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/

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