Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42867636›Full record

ArticleDermatologie (Heidelberg, Germany)2026

[Real-world outcomes of avelumab treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma : An Austrian multicenter real-world study].

Magdalena Forstinger, Matthias Barta, Matthias Brandlmaier, Christine Hafner, Maximilian Lammer, Lukas Muigg, Angela Öllinger, Anja Pinczker, Lisa Zahn, Timna Vith and 1 more

Abstract readEnglish Abstract
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Dermatologie (Heidelberg, Germany), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Magdalena ForstingerAbteilung für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Klinik Hietzing, Wiener Gesundheitsverbund, Wien, Österreich. magdalenaforstinger@yahoo.de.
Matthias BartaAbteilung für Haut- und Geschlechtskrankheiten, Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen, Wels, Österreich.
Matthias BrandlmaierUniversitätsklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, Universitätsklinikum Salzburg, Salzburg, Österreich.
Christine HafnerKlinische Abteilung für Haut- und Geschlechtskrankheiten, Universitätsklinikum St. Pölten, St. Pölten, Österreich.
Maximilian LammerUniversitätsklinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Universitätsklinikum Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Österreich.
Lukas MuiggKlinische Abteilung für Dermatologie und Venerologie, Universitätsklinikum Wiener Neustadt, Wiener Neustadt, Österreich.
Angela ÖllingerUniversitätsklinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie, Kepler Universitätsklinikum, Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Linz, Österreich.
Anja PinczkerAbteilung für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Klinik Landstraße, Wiener Gesundheitsverbund, Wien, Österreich.
Lisa ZahnAbteilung für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Klinik Landstraße, Wiener Gesundheitsverbund, Wien, Österreich.
Timna VithAbteilung für Dermatologie und Venerologie, Klinikum Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Österreich.
Christian PoschAbteilung für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Klinik Hietzing, Wiener Gesundheitsverbund, Wien, Österreich.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMerkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer. Treatment with avelumab (Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody) is established in advanced disease, but real-world data are limited.

objectiveTo assess effectiveness and safety of avelumab for advanced MCC in Austria. MATERIALS AND

methodsThis multicenter retrospective chart-review study included 49 patients with Merkel cell carcinoma who had received at least one cycle of avelumab between September 2017 and December 2023. The primary endpoint was real-world progression-free survival (rwPFS). Secondary endpoints included real-world overall survival (rwOS), real-world objective response rate (rwORR), real-world duration of response (rwDOR), real-world time to response (rwTTR), and safety; real-world time to treatment discontinuation (rwTTD) univariable subgroup analyses and post hoc multivariable Cox regression models were assessed exploratorily.

resultsMedian rwPFS was 10.1 months (95% CI 1.8-18.4), and median rwOS was 22.9 months (95% CI 5.0-40.8). RwORR was 47.9% (95% CI 34.5-61.7), and median rwDOR was 19.2 months. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in 71.4% of patients and were grade ≥ 3 in 48.6% of affected patients. Immune- and/or treatment-related AEs were documented in 53.1%; 12.2% discontinued treatment due to adverse events.

conclusionReal-world data support avelumab effectiveness with an expected safety profile in advanced MCC. In routine care, AEs may limit treatment duration, underscoring structured monitoring and interdisciplinary management.

Indexed as

Immune checkpoint inhibitorsInterdisciplinary managementSafety profileStructured monitoringTreatment duration

Identifiers

PMID42867636

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.