PURPOSE: Factors affecting relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the lower limb were reviewed. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of 60 patients from 1986 to 2005 with a diagnosis of MCC of the lower limb or buttock were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were treated with curative intent with surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival, disease-specific survival, and RFS were 53%, 61%, and 20%, respectively. Factors influencing RFS were analyzed using univariate analysis. It appeared that recurrent disease worsened RFS (p = 0.03) and the addition of any radiotherapy improved RFS (p <0.001), as did radiotherapy to the inguinal nodes (p = 0.01) or primary site and inguinal nodes (p = 0.003). Age, surgical margins, and stage were not statistically significant. On multivariate analysis, the only significant factor was the addition of radiotherapy (hazard ratio = 0.51 p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The addition of radiotherapy improves RFS compared with surgery alone. Elective treatment should be given to the inguinal nodes to reduce the risk of relapse. Crown Copyright 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PURPOSE: Factors affecting relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the lower limb were reviewed. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of 60 patients from 1986 to 2005 with a diagnosis of MCC of the lower limb or buttock were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were treated with curative intent with surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival, disease-specific survival, and RFS were 53%, 61%, and 20%, respectively. Factors influencing RFS were analyzed using univariate analysis. It appeared that recurrent disease worsened RFS (p = 0.03) and the addition of any radiotherapy improved RFS (p <0.001), as did radiotherapy to the inguinal nodes (p = 0.01) or primary site and inguinal nodes (p = 0.003). Age, surgical margins, and stage were not statistically significant. On multivariate analysis, the only significant factor was the addition of radiotherapy (hazard ratio = 0.51 p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The addition of radiotherapy improves RFS compared with surgery alone. Elective treatment should be given to the inguinal nodes to reduce the risk of relapse. Crown Copyright 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors: Lilit Garibyan; Shane E Cotter; Jorgen L Hansen; Claire Noell; Andrew Dorosario; Desmond A O'Farrell; Phillip M Devlin; Linda C Wang Journal: Cancer J Date: 2013 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 3.360
Authors: Christopher K Bichakjian; Thomas Olencki; Sumaira Z Aasi; Murad Alam; James S Andersen; Rachel Blitzblau; Glen M Bowen; Carlo M Contreras; Gregory A Daniels; Roy Decker; Jeffrey M Farma; Kris Fisher; Brian Gastman; Karthik Ghosh; Roy C Grekin; Kenneth Grossman; Alan L Ho; Karl D Lewis; Manisha Loss; Daniel D Lydiatt; Jane Messina; Kishwer S Nehal; Paul Nghiem; Igor Puzanov; Chrysalyne D Schmults; Ashok R Shaha; Valencia Thomas; Yaohui G Xu; John A Zic; Karin G Hoffmann; Anita M Engh Journal: J Natl Compr Canc Netw Date: 2018-06 Impact factor: 12.693