Radiotherapy for inoperable Merkel cell carcinoma: a systematic review and pooled analysis
Keywords:
Merkel cell carcinoma, radiotherapy, inoperable, relapse, survivalAbstract
Background: Cumulative data on radiation monotherapy for Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is lacking.
Objective: We sought to synthesize all available data on treatment outcomes for radiation monotherapy for inoperable stage I-III MCC.
Methods: We performed a systematic review of the current literature. Articles published in English in the PUBMED database up to July 29, 2016 were evaluated.
Results: Eight case reports, 4 case series, and 6 retrospective studies, yielding 68 patients, were included in our analysis. Of the 24 stage I/II patients treated with local irradiation, 6 (25%) relapsed and 1 (4%) died from MCC. Of the 24 stage I/II patients treated with local and regional nodal irradiation, 5 (21%) relapsed and 2 (8%) died from MCC. Of the 20 stage III patients treated with local and regional nodal irradiation, 12 (60%) relapsed and 7 (35%) died from MCC.
Conclusions: Radiation monotherapy appears to be a reasonable treatment modality for patients with inoperable stage I-III MCC. Further investigation with prospective studies is needed to draw definitive conclusions.
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