Scientific and clinical developments in Merkel cell carcinoma: A polyomavirus-driven, often-lethal skin cancer.

ABSTRACT: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a primary neuroendocrine skin cancer that recurs in ~40% of cases. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and ultraviolet (UV)-induced mutations are two major causative factors of MCC. Virus-positive MCCs express polyomavirus oncoproteins that are highly immunogenic yet are required for ongoing tumor growth. Virus-negative MCCs have a high burden of UV-DNA mutations that encode tumor-specific UV-neoantigens. Thus, both UV- and virus-induced MCCs are highly immunogenic, enabling diverse T-cell targeted therapies. Optimal MCC management is challenging given its rarity, aggressive nature, rapidly evolving care guidelines, and fundamental differences in management compared to other skin cancers. MCC is often managed aggressively with extensive surgery, radiotherapy or

SUBMITTER: Akaike T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8810602 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature