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Merkel cell carcinoma: prognosis and treatment of patients from a single institution.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Allen, PJ; Bowne, WB; Jaques, DP; Brennan, MF; Busam, K; Coit, DG
Published in: J Clin Oncol
April 1, 2005

PURPOSE: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon cutaneous malignancy. Most reports consist of single-institution experiences of fewer than 30 patients. The natural history of MCC is poorly defined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A review was performed of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's MCC database, identifying 251 patients who had been treated between 1970 and 2002. Patient, tumor, and treatment-related factors were analyzed for their association with recurrence and survival. RESULTS: The average follow-up for all patients was 40 months and 46 months for patients alive at last follow-up. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 64%. Disease stage was the only independent predictor of survival (stage I, 81%; stage II, 67%; stage III, 52%; stage IV, 11%; P = .001). Pathologic staging of the draining nodal basin was performed in 71 (40%) of 177 patients who presented with clinically negative nodes, and 16 of these patients (23%) were found to have node-positive disease. Pathologic nodal staging was associated with improved stage-specific survival probabilities (clinical node-negative, 75% v pathologic node-negative disease, 97%; P = .009) and decreased nodal recurrence (44% v 11%, P < .001). The median time to recurrence was 9 months, and 102 patients (43%) recurred. Local recurrence developed in 8% of patients after margin-negative excision. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that the natural history of MCC is variable and dependent on the stage of disease at presentation. Pathologic nodal staging identifies a group of patients with excellent long-term survival. After margin-negative excision and pathologic nodal staging, local and nodal recurrence rates are low.

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Published In

J Clin Oncol

DOI

ISSN

0732-183X

Publication Date

April 1, 2005

Volume

23

Issue

10

Start / End Page

2300 / 2309

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Skin Neoplasms
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Prognosis
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Humans
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Allen, P. J., Bowne, W. B., Jaques, D. P., Brennan, M. F., Busam, K., & Coit, D. G. (2005). Merkel cell carcinoma: prognosis and treatment of patients from a single institution. J Clin Oncol, 23(10), 2300–2309. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2005.02.329
Allen, Peter J., Wilbur B. Bowne, David P. Jaques, Murray F. Brennan, Klaus Busam, and Daniel G. Coit. “Merkel cell carcinoma: prognosis and treatment of patients from a single institution.J Clin Oncol 23, no. 10 (April 1, 2005): 2300–2309. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2005.02.329.
Allen PJ, Bowne WB, Jaques DP, Brennan MF, Busam K, Coit DG. Merkel cell carcinoma: prognosis and treatment of patients from a single institution. J Clin Oncol. 2005 Apr 1;23(10):2300–9.
Allen, Peter J., et al. “Merkel cell carcinoma: prognosis and treatment of patients from a single institution.J Clin Oncol, vol. 23, no. 10, Apr. 2005, pp. 2300–09. Pubmed, doi:10.1200/JCO.2005.02.329.
Allen PJ, Bowne WB, Jaques DP, Brennan MF, Busam K, Coit DG. Merkel cell carcinoma: prognosis and treatment of patients from a single institution. J Clin Oncol. 2005 Apr 1;23(10):2300–2309.

Published In

J Clin Oncol

DOI

ISSN

0732-183X

Publication Date

April 1, 2005

Volume

23

Issue

10

Start / End Page

2300 / 2309

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Skin Neoplasms
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Prognosis
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Humans
  • Female