BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a very infrequent and aggressive skin tumor with high recurrence and metastasis rates. MCC treatment is currently not well defined. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 75-year-old woman who was diagnosed with MCC in 2010 and suffered a third relapse in 2012 which could not be treated surgically. RESULTS: The patient began oral etoposide treatment reaching complete response after eight cycles and receiving a total of 11 cycles. As side effects, the patient suffered from neutropenia, candidiasis and mucositis, but after reducing the dosage to 50% it was well tolerated. DISCUSSION: Chemotherapy treatment in this setting is poorly defined. In this case, monotherapy treatment with oral etoposide was decided due to the patient's age and comorbidities, achieving a very positive outcome.
BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a very infrequent and aggressive skin tumor with high recurrence and metastasis rates. MCC treatment is currently not well defined. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 75-year-old woman who was diagnosed with MCC in 2010 and suffered a third relapse in 2012 which could not be treated surgically. RESULTS: The patient began oral etoposide treatment reaching complete response after eight cycles and receiving a total of 11 cycles. As side effects, the patient suffered from neutropenia, candidiasis and mucositis, but after reducing the dosage to 50% it was well tolerated. DISCUSSION: Chemotherapy treatment in this setting is poorly defined. In this case, monotherapy treatment with oral etoposide was decided due to the patient's age and comorbidities, achieving a very positive outcome.
Authors: Peter J Allen; Wilbur B Bowne; David P Jaques; Murray F Brennan; Klaus Busam; Daniel G Coit Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2005-04-01 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Michael G Poulsen; Danny Rischin; Ian Porter; Euan Walpole; Jennifer Harvey; Chris Hamilton; Jacqui Keller; Lee Tripcony Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 2005-08-25 Impact factor: 7.038
Authors: Michael Poulsen; Danny Rischin; Euan Walpole; Jennifer Harvey; John Mackintosh; Jill Ainslie; Chris Hamilton; Jacqui Keller; Lee Tripcony Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2003-12-01 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Stanley J Miller; Murad Alam; James Andersen; Daniel Berg; Christopher K Bichakjian; Glen Bowen; Richard T Cheney; L Frank Glass; Roy C Grekin; Dennis E Hallahan; Anne Kessinger; Nancy Y Lee; Nanette Liegeois; Daniel D Lydiatt; Jeff Michalski; William H Morrison; Kishwer S Nehal; Kelly C Nelson; Paul Nghiem; Thomas Olencki; Allan R Oseroff; Clifford S Perlis; E William Rosenberg; Ashok R Shaha; Marshall M Urist; Linda C Wang Journal: J Natl Compr Canc Netw Date: 2009-03 Impact factor: 12.693