News & Publications

Another study (this one from Spain) documenting the striking utility of PET/CT scanning in MCC, particularly at baseline, when we strongly advocate for this technology. Staging and management were altered in a large proportion of patients.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive skin cancer that occurs in elderly patients. The risk of MCC is increased by immunosuppression due to conditions such as human immunodeficiency virus infection, hematological malignancies, and organ transplantation. These risk factors can also be ...

When you get your chance to receive the COVID vaccine, unless there is a specific contraindication, you should do it!  Many patients have been asking this very reasonable question. Our team has in every case said to get vaccinated, whether or not the patient is on therapy to alter their immune resp...

Just like humans, cats and dogs can get Merkel cell carcinoma. And just like in humans, it is unclear what type of cell in the skin gives rise to MCC, though a precursor skin cell seems most likely. Unlike in humans, there is no evidence a virus causes MCC in animals.

Dear friends of Merkel cell carcinoma research, As we conclude this unprecedented year, I would like to convey Team Merkel’s appreciation of your support. Although it was a challenging year, 2020 was also one of many exciting milestones in Merkel cell research that I am excited to share with yo...

Take-Home Message Using the National Cancer Database, cases of stage I–III Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC; N=11,119) were sorted into those treated at high treatment center volume (TCV) institutions versus low TVC institutions. At a median follow-up of 28.8 months, the 2-year overall survival was...

Cats and dogs can get MCC as well as humans! But their MCCs are not caused by the Merkel polyomavirus.

Background: Clinical benefit from programmed cell death 1 receptor (PD-1) inhibitors relies on reinvigoration of endogenous antitumor immunity. Nonetheless, robust immunological markers, based on circulating immune cell subsets associated with therapeutic efficacy are yet to be validated. Methods: W...

Importance: Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive, cutaneous, neuroendocrine cancer that is increasing in incidence. Understanding why the incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma is increasing through underlying factors, such as age effects, calendar period of diagnosis effects, and birth cohort effects...

This team from Yale used data from 3500 patients in the National Cancer DataBase to reveal that MCC care at major academic centers with skin cancer expertise both followed cancer guidelines more closely and was associated with a 30% decrease in the chance of death as compared to MCC patients who wer...