Increased risk of recurrence and disease-specific death following delayed postoperative radiation for Merkel cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is often treated with surgery and postoperative radiation therapy (PORT). The optimal time to initiate PORT (Time-to-PORT [ttPORT]) is unknown.

Purpose

We assessed if delays in ttPORT were associated with inferior outcomes.

Methods

Competing risk regression was used to evaluate associations between ttPORT and locoregional recurrence (LRR) for patients with stage I/II MCC in a prospective registry and adjust for covariates. Distant metastasis and death were competing risks.

Results

The cohort included 124 patients with median ttPORT of 41 days (range: 8-125 days). Median follow-up was 55 months. 17 (14%) patients experienced a LRR, 14 (82%) of which arose outside the radiation field. LRR at 5 years was increased for ttPORT

SUBMITTER: Alexander NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11260506 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature