Immunotherapy for Merkel cell carcinoma

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive form of skin cancer which, while chemosensitive, has high rates of relapse and chemoresistance, limiting the impact of chemotherapy. An immunogenic tumor, the management of advanced MCC has changed dramatically with the introduction of checkpoint inhibitors. This review will focus on the impact of immunotherapy in unresectable and metastatic MCC, ongoing research in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings, and future directions of immune-based strategies for this challenging cancer.

Automated summary

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive form of skin cancer that, while responsive to chemotherapy, often relapses and develops resistance, limiting the effectiveness of treatment. The management of advanced MCC has been significantly impacted by the introduction of checkpoint inhibitors. Ongoing research is focusing on immunotherapy for MCC in unresectable and metastatic cases, as well as exploring future immune-based strategies for this challenging cancer.