Does Neutron Radiation Therapy Potentiate an Immune Response to Merkel Cell Carcinoma?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive cutaneous malignancy. In the advanced setting, MCC is often treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies. X-ray radiation therapy (XRT) is commonly used for palliation. There is an unmet need for new treatment options in patients progressing on immunotherapy and XRT. We present 2 patients with progressive MCC who were successfully treated with high linear energy transfer neutron radiation therapy (NRT).

Clinical observations

Patient A, an 85-year-old white male with chronic lymphocytic leukemia had progressive MCC with multiple tumors on the face despite prior XRT and ongoing treatment with pembrolizumab. The 5 most symptomatic lesions were treated with a short course of NRT (2 ×

SUBMITTER: Schaub SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6871593 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature