ArticleCancers2025
Is the Addition of Chemotherapy to Adjuvant Radiation in Merkel Cell Cancer Beneficial? Real-World Data with Long-Term Follow-Up.
Article in Cancers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Optimal Duration of Adjuvant Platinum-Etoposide in High-Risk Merkel Cell Carcinoma.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Article
- Survival Outcomes in Lymph Node-Positive Merkel Cell Carcinoma (Stage III): A Comparison Between Known and Unknown Primary Tumors and Their Sun Exposure Sites.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Worse prognosis of local and locally advanced head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma: Is it time to change the treatment paradigm?Frontiers in immunology · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundThe role of adding chemotherapy to adjuvant radiation therapy in resectable Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) remains controversial. Previous studies have shown conflicting results, and long-term outcome data are limited.
objectivesIn this study, we aimed to evaluate the long-term survival outcomes of patients with resectable MCC treated with surgery followed by either radiation alone or combined chemoradiation.
methodsThis retrospective multicenter cohort study analyzed 105 patients with resectable MCC treated between 1985 and 2023. Patients received either adjuvant radiation alone (
resultsThe 20-year overall survival rates were 53.4% for chemoradiation versus 30.7% for radiation alone (
conclusionsWhile the multivariate analysis did not indicate a survival advantage to adding chemotherapy to radiation, the comparable survival outcomes despite significantly more advanced disease in the chemoradiation group suggest a possible benefit in high-risk patients. Our results indicate the need for prospective studies with larger, stage-matched cohorts to definitively establish the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk resectable MCC.
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