PURPOSE: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC)/primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma is a rare and aggressive malignant tumor. Optimal therapeutic strategy has not yet been established. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Management of 145 patients from five centres was analysed. These data included ages, pathological stages, disease sites, histological and treatment details. Cause-specific (CSS) and overall survivals (OS) were analyzed by the Log-rank and Kaplan-Meier methods. RESULTS: Median age was 78 years (47-95.2). We experienced 37 local, 37 regional and 15 distant relapses. In case of relapse, salvage therapy has been proposed whenever the general state of health condition of patient permitted it. CONCLUSION: Our results for the treatment of relapse encourage multidisciplinary approach. Multicenter prospective trials are still needed to clarify and validate the optimal strategy.
PURPOSE:Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC)/primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma is a rare and aggressive malignant tumor. Optimal therapeutic strategy has not yet been established. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Management of 145 patients from five centres was analysed. These data included ages, pathological stages, disease sites, histological and treatment details. Cause-specific (CSS) and overall survivals (OS) were analyzed by the Log-rank and Kaplan-Meier methods. RESULTS: Median age was 78 years (47-95.2). We experienced 37 local, 37 regional and 15 distant relapses. In case of relapse, salvage therapy has been proposed whenever the general state of health condition of patient permitted it. CONCLUSION: Our results for the treatment of relapse encourage multidisciplinary approach. Multicenter prospective trials are still needed to clarify and validate the optimal strategy.