Neoadjuvant polychemotherapy in locally advanced Merkel cell carcinoma.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: A 72-year-old man presented with a Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the left cheek with concomitant nodal spread. A 61-year-old man presented with an MCC of the right thigh with rapid nodal recurrence. INVESTIGATIONS: Skin biopsy samples proved the MCC nature of the neoplasm in both patients. Staging procedure included clinical and radiological investigations. DIAGNOSIS: Advanced stage II MCC. MANAGEMENT: Neoadjuvant cisplatin, etoposide and cyclophosphamide (EPC) regimen led to local control in the first patient and allowed curative surgery associated with adjuvant radiation therapy. Complete remission was maintained for 32 months. The second patient was treated by surgery plus radiation therapy. Nodal and cutaneous recurrences were treated with a neoadjuvant EPC regimen leading to a 5-year complete remission.

Author information

Author/s: Jouary, Thomas (T); Lalanne, Nathalie (N); Siberchicot, François (F); Ricard, Anne-Sophie (AS); Versapuech, Julie (J); Lepreux, Sébastien (S); Delaunay, Michèle (M); Taieb, Alain (A); Medscape;

Affiliation: Dermatology Department, Skin Cancer Unit, St André's Hospital, Bordeaux, France. thomas.jouary(-atsign-)chu-bordeaux.fr

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Case Reports; Journal Article

Journal: Nature reviews. Clinical oncology (Nat Rev Clin Oncol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 6 (issue 9) : pp 544-8

Dates: Created 2009/08/26; Completed 2009/11/04;

PMID: 19707243, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/4/2009, IMS Date: )

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