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01-03-2018 | Review

Epidemiology, biology and therapy of Merkel cell carcinoma: conclusions from the EU project IMMOMEC

Authors: Jürgen C. Becker, Andreas Stang, Axel zur Hausen, Nicole Fischer, James A. DeCaprio, Richard W. Tothill, Rikke Lyngaa, Ulla Kring Hansen, Cathrin Ritter, Paul Nghiem, Christopher K. Bichakjian, Selma Ugurel, David Schrama

Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy | Issue 3/2018

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive, often lethal neuroendocrine cancer. Its carcinogenesis may be either caused by the clonal integration of the Merkel cell polyomavirus into the host genome or by UV-induced mutations. Notably, virally-encoded oncoproteins and UV-induced mutations affect comparable signaling pathways such as RB restriction of cell cycle progression or p53 inactivation. Despite its low incidence, MCC recently received much attention based on its exquisite immunogenicity and the resulting major success of immune modulating therapies. Here, we summarize current knowledge on epidemiology, biology and therapy of MCC as conclusion of the project ‘Immune Modulating strategies for treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma’, which was funded over a 5-year period by the European Commission to investigate innovative immunotherapies for MCC.

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Title: Epidemiology, biology and therapy of Merkel cell carcinoma: conclusions from the EU project IMMOMEC
Authors: Jürgen C. Becker
Andreas Stang
Axel zur Hausen
Nicole Fischer
James A. DeCaprio
Richard W. Tothill
Rikke Lyngaa
Ulla Kring Hansen
Cathrin Ritter
Paul Nghiem
Christopher K. Bichakjian
Selma Ugurel
David Schrama
Publication date: 01-03-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy / Issue 3/2018
Print ISSN: 0340-7004
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0851
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-017-2099-3

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