Rescue of Immunotherapy-Refractory Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma With Conventionally Fractionated Radiotherapy and Concurrent Pembrolizumab.

ABSTRACT: Merkel cell carcinoma has historically had dismal prognosis with limited cytotoxic chemotherapy options that provide durable control of metastatic disease. The advent of anti-programmed death protein (anti-PD1)/anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) directed immunotherapy has shown initial promise in Merkel cell carcinoma and radiation might augment immune responses. We present a case report of a 70-year-old male who underwent resection of Merkel cell carcinoma of the right thigh with a close margin and positive right inguinal involvement. Due to high-risk features, the patient was treated with adjuvant radiation to the right groin and with systemic carboplatin/etoposide, but developed local failure requiring salvage surgical resection. The patient then developed metastatic disease wi

SUBMITTER: Bloom BC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6459944 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature