Oct 5, 2016 - commonly appear as a painless pink, ... In addition, to learn more, follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @P
Merkel Cell Carcinoma Symptoms1,2 Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) commonly appear as a painless pink, red, or purple bump on the skin. They usually appear on areas of skin exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, arms, and legs, but they can occur anywhere on the body. Sometimes the skin on the top of the tumor might break open and bleed.
Key Risk Factors3-5
Fact Sheet
May 2016
What is Merkel Cell Carcinoma? Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer.6 In MCC, malignant cells form in the top layer of the skin, close to the nerve endings that sense touch.3 Once the cancer starts to metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body, it becomes metastatic MCC.3
Diagnosis and Prognosis MCC is often misdiagnosed for other skin cancers and grows at an exponential rate on chronically sun-damaged skin.7-10 The prognosis for MCC is poor and worsens as the tumor metastasizes.11,12
Proportion of patients surviving beyond 5 years:11,12
Exposure to a lot of natural or artificial sunlight A weakened immune system due to diseases such as HIV or chronic lymphocytic leukemia Taking medication that suppresses the immune system (e.g., after an organ transplant) A history of other types of cancer Older age (≥ 50 years) Male gender Fair skin Infection with the Merkel cell polyomavirus, present in approximately 80% of MCC tumors
30-64%
11
Patients with MCC of any stage
Less than
20%
12
Patients with metastatic MCC
Incidence Epidemiologic data suggests that each year there are: Approximately
1,500
Overall, metastatic disease is found in
new cases of MCC diagnosed in the U.S.12
5-11%
Approximately
2,500
of patients with MCC 14-18
new cases of MCC diagnosed in the E.U.13
motherapy he
In i
may experience tumor shrinkage
23%
e er tr atmen th
54-57%
llowing ano fo
may experience tumor shrinkage
C
emothe l ch ra tia
py
While early-stage MCC can be generally managed with surgery, treatment options for metastatic MCC are severely limited. 2,11 For these patients, there are no approved treatments once the initial treatment becomes ineffective.19,20 As such, the standard of care for patients with metastatic MCC is to enroll in clinical trials.11
In patients with metastatic MCC treated with:19,20
t
Treatment
to 8 3 months
The time it takes for tumors to start growing again after they’ve responded to chemotherapy12,20
Need for Further Research Research is urgently needed to identify treatments for metastatic MCC which can improve the quality and duration of life for people living with metastatic MCC. Such treatments must induce significant and lasting tumor shrinkage not only at the site where MCC was first diagnosed, but also on parts of the body where the cancer has spread. To learn more about clinical trials in MCC, visit clinicaltrials.gov and search for ‘Merkel cell carcinoma.’
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Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Fact Sheet
May 2016
References 1. American Cancer Society. Skin Cancer: Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Available from: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/skincancer-merkelcell/detailedguide/skin-cancer-merkel-cell-carcinoma-signs-and-symptoms. Accessed April 2016. 2. Duprat J, Landman G, Salvajoli J and Brechtbühl E. A Review of the Epidemiology and Treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Clinics. 2011;66(10):1817–1823. http://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-59322011001000023 3. National Cancer Institute. Merkel Cell Carcinoma Treatment–Patient Version (PDQ®). Available from: http://www.cancer.gov/types/skin/patient/merkel-cell-treatment-pdq. Accessed April 2016. 4. American Cancer Society. Skin Cancer: Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Available from: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/skincancer-merkelcell/detailedguide/skin-cancer-merkel-cell-carcinoma-signs-and-symptoms. Accessed April 2016. 5. Skin Cancer Foundation. Merkel Cell Carcinoma: An Uncommon but Often Lethal Skin Cancer. Available from: http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/merkel-cell-carcinoma. Accessed April 2016. 6. Poulsen M. Merkel-Cell Carcinoma of the Skin. The Lancet Oncology 2004;5(10):593-599. 7. Desch L and Kuntsfeld R. Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Chemotherapy and Emerging New Therapeutic Options. Journal of Skin Cancer. 2013(2013):327150. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/327150 8. Heath M, Jaimes N and Lemos B. Clinical Characteristics of Merkel Cell Carcinoma at Diagnosis in 195 Patients: The AEIOU features. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2008;58:375-81. http://www.pnlab.org/clinical/documents/ClinCharacteristics.pdf 9. Poulsen M. Merkel Cell Carcinoma of Skin: Diagnosis and Management Strategies. Drugs Aging. 2005;22(3):219-29. 10. Swann MH and Yoon J. Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Seminars in Oncology. 2008;34(1):51-56. 11. NCCN Merkel Cell Carcinoma Guidelines version I. 2016. Available from: www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/mcc.pdf. Accessed April 2016. 12. Lemos B, Storer B, Iyer J, et al. Pathologic Nodal Evaluation Improves Prognostic Accuracy in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Analysis of 5,823 Cases as the Basis of the First Consensus Staging System for this Cancer. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2010;63:751-761. 13. IMMOMEC (European Commission). Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Available from: http://www.immomec.eu/project/objectives/background/merkel-cell-carcinoma/. Accessed April 2016. 14. Allen PJ, Bowne WB, Jaques DP, et al. Merkel cell carcinoma: prognosis and treatment of patients from a single institution. J Clin Oncol 2005;23(10):2300-2309. 15. Andea AA, Coit DG, Amin B, et al. Merkel cell carcinoma: histologic features and prognosis. Cancer 2008;113(9):2549-2558. 16. Andea AA, Patel R, Ponnazhagan S, et al. Merkel cell carcinoma: correlation of KIT expression with survival and evaluation of KIT gene mutational status. Hum Pathol. 2010;41(10):1405-1412. 17. Santamaria-Barria JA, Boland GM, Yeap BY, et al. Merkel cell carcinoma: 30-year experience from a single institution. Ann Surg Oncol 2013;20(4):1365-1373. 18. Stokes JB, Graw KS, Denel LT, et al. Patients with Merkel cell carcinoma tumors < or = 1.0 cm in diameter are unlikely to harbor regional lymphnode metastasis. J Clin Oncol 2009;27(23):3772-3777. 19. Iyer JG, Blom A, Doumani R, et al. Response Rate and Durability of Chemotherapy for Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma Among 62 Patients. Abstract Presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (ASCO) 2014. 20. Voog E, Biron P, Martin JP, et al. Chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma. Cancer 1999;85(12):2589-2595.
Immuno-oncology is a top priority for Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer Inc. The global strategic alliance between Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer Inc., New York, US, enables the companies to benefit from each other’s strengths and capabilities and further explore the therapeutic potential of immunotherapy. The alliance is focused on developing high-priority international clinical programs to investigate immunotherapy regimens, and is striving to find new ways to treat cancer.
Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier worldTM At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of healthcare products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer healthcare products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. For more information, please visit us at www.pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer_News, LinkedIn, YouTube, and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.
About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2015, Merck KgaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of €12.85 billion in 66 countries. Founded in 1668, Merck KgaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany, holds the global rights to the Merck KgaA, Darmstadt, Germany, name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials. US-AVL-0516-0025a
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