The Evaluation and Treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma and Brain Metastasis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
| Autor: | Gaburak P; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Spokane, USA., Brown TA; College of Medicine, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Spokane, USA., Pursel AJ; College of Medicine, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Spokane, USA., Cardenas Contreras L; College of Medicine, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Spokane, USA., Chun M; Department of Neurology, The Everett Clinic, Everett, USA. |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | Cureus [Cureus] 2023 Dec 29; Vol. 15 (12), pp. e51295. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Dec 29 (Print Publication: 2023). |
| DOI: | 10.7759/cureus.51295 |
| Abstrakt: | Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine tumor associated with high mortality if metastases are identified. Currently, there is no standardized nor curative treatment for neurometastatic MCC. In this study, we have reviewed the more recent cases and the use of immunotherapy in a population. In this case report and review, we present a case of MCC with brain metastasis currently undergoing treatment with immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) resulting in an initial complete response with a progression-free survival time of five months. We also review the past reported literature and the 11 newly presented cases on their clinical presentation of neurometastatic MCC, immunohistochemical markers, and treatment outcomes. In summary, immunotherapy initially showed a promising response with the complete elimination of MCC brain metastasis. The early aggressive treatment of pembrolizumab with stereotactic radiosurgery should be considered as this treatment plan has shown improved therapeutic effects compared to the standard chemoradiation therapy. Further investigations are needed to determine the efficacy and response of immunotherapy use for neurometastatic MCC. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. (Copyright © 2023, Gaburak et al.) |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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