Viral oncoprotein antibodies as a marker for recurrence of Merkel cell carcinoma: A prospective validation study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer with a recurrence rate of >40%. Of the 2000 MCC cases per year in the United States, most are caused by the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Antibodies to MCPyV oncoprotein (T-antigens) have been correlated with MCC tumor burden. The present study assesses the clinical utility of MCPyV-oncoprotein antibody titers for MCC prognostication and surveillance.

Methods

MCPyV-oncoprotein antibody detection was optimized in a clinical laboratory. A cohort of 219 patients with newly diagnosed MCC were followed prospectively (median follow-up, 1.9 years). Among the seropositive patients, antibody titer and disease status were serially tracked.

Results

Antibodies to MCPyV oncoproteins were rare among healthy ind

SUBMITTER: Paulson KG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5384867 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature