ArticleBMJ case reports2019
Combined radio-immunotherapy leads to complete clinical regression of stage IV Merkel cell carcinoma.
Article in BMJ case reports, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Complete metabolic response in stage IV Merkel cell carcinoma after combined avelumab and radiotherapy: a case report suggestive of an abscopal effect.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Article
- Parotid intranodal metastasis of Merkel cell carcinoma: a rare case report.BMC oral health · 2025Article
- Review
- Trials and tribulations of pancreatic cancer immunotherapy.Cancer letters · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive neuroendocrine tumour of the skin. While localised disease carries an overall favourable prognosis, metastatic disease is associated with poor clincal outcomes. Most cases of metastatic MCC are managed with systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy, though 5-year survival for these patients remains a dismal 17%. Here, we present the case of a 79-year-old man with MCC of the right ear with metastases to regional lymph nodes, ipsilateral parotid gland and thoracic spine. He was treated with a combination of first-line radiotherapy and concurrent immune checkpoint inhibition (avelumab), which led to complete clinical regression of disease with minimal adverse effects. This observation suggests that combined radio-immunotherapy warrants larger-scale investigation for use in patients with unresectable MCC.
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Registered trials
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