News & Publications

Background: Response rates are primary endpoints in many oncology trials; however, correlation with overall survival (OS) is not uniform across cancer types, treatments, or lines of therapy. This study explored the association between objective response (OR) and OS in patients with chemotherapy-refr...

This updated version of the MCC Clinical Practice Guidelines has a new feature, ‘evidence blocks’, that summarize the efficacy, cost and quality of data that support the use of various therapies for MCC. This should help physicians and insurers to decide what therapies are indicated for patients...

Because of the well-established therapeutic benefit of boosting antitumor responses through blockade of the T cell inhibitory receptor PD-1, it has been proposed that PD-1 blockade could also be useful in infectious disease settings, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. However, in ...

Objectives: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer with higher incidence among whites, elderly, and immunosuppressed patients. Although immunosuppressed MCC patients are at higher risk of recurrence and MCC-related death, it is unknown whether immunosuppression ...

American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting San Diego, CA Prepared by Drs. Song Park, Paul Nghiem, and Hannah Thomas Announcements: 1) If you are interested in presenting at next year’s MMIG meeting in Washington, D.C., on Friday March 1st, 2019 (5 – 7 pm), please send Paul an email ...

On December 19, 2018, Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic Me...

On December 19, 2018, the Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA, Merck & Co. Inc.) for adult and pediatric patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Approval was based on Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network prot...

The Advancements department at Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center produced a video that focuses on recent progress in 'skin cancer' (though MCC is not specifically mentioned, as it is meant to reflect cancer research more broadly). Kelly Paulson (who did her PhD on Merkel cell carcinoma at UW) is ...

Dear friends of Merkel cell carcinoma research, During this time of giving and celebrations, I want to let you know how appreciative our Merkel Team is of your support.  This year was one of many exciting milestones that I am thrilled to share with you.   We have written an annual update lette...

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer that frequently responds to anti-PD-1 therapy. MCC is associated with sun exposure and, in 80% of cases, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). MCPyVspecific T and B cell responses provide a unique opportunity to study cancer-specific i...