The Epidemiology of Merkel Cell Carcinoma in the United States

Merkelcell.org Summary

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive skin cancer. Understanding who is affected, whether the number of cases is increasing, and how patients respond to treatment is important for improving care. This study examined data from a large U.S. cancer database, including 11,574 people diagnosed with MCC between 2000 and 2021, to identify trends in the disease.
The average age at diagnosis was 77, and most patients were male (64%) and white (90%). About 61% were diagnosed before the cancer had spread beyond the skin, and the face was the most common site (26%). While the number of new MCC cases increased from the 1990s through the early 2010s, since 2013 the annual rate has remained steady at around 7 cases per million people in the U.S. However, the total number of people with MCC has continued to rise, largely due to an aging population, particularly among those over 65. In terms of survival, 77% of patients were alive one year after diagnosis, and 44% were alive at five years. Although MCC-related deaths rose between 1980 and 2010, death rates have declined since 2010, likely due to new treatments such as immunotherapy.
Overall, MCC primarily affects older white men. While the total number of cases may continue to grow, survival outcomes have improved in recent years. This study provides valuable insights into how MCC has evolved in the U.S. and highlights the important role of newer therapies in improving patient outcomes.

Abstract