OncoTherapy Network releases article, “Viral Oncoprotien Antibodies May Help Detect Merkel Cell Carcinoma Recurrence”

Merkelcell.org Summary

On December 13, 2016, OncoTherapy Network published an article on the Merkel cell carcinoma antibody test. This article discusses how an immune system marker is used to outperform and supplement imaging studies for recurrence of MCC.

Overview

Scientists have found a way to detect earlier if Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is recurring in patients. They have published a paper in the journal Cancer demonstrating how an immune system marker may be able to outperform and supplement imaging studies for recurrence of MCC.

The majority of MCC cases are caused by the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and antibodies to MCPyV oncoprotein have been correlated with MCC tumor burden. The authors prospectively analyzed the clinical utility of MCPyV-oncoprotein antibody titers for MCC surveillance and prognostication. The study included 219 patients whose initial MCC had been effectively treated with surgery and/or radiation. They compared how well the test detected MCC compared with radiologic imaging and found that over a 5-year period, the test was significantly better.