Perspectives on 10 years of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Podcast.

Authors

Shailender Bhatia, Sandra D'Angelo, Paul Nghiem

Published in

Targeted oncology. Oct 07, 2026. Epub Oct 07, 2026.

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive skin cancer with a poor prognosis, particularly in patients with advanced disease. The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) approximately 10 years ago has dramatically improved outcomes for patients with advanced MCC. Current US Food and Drug Administration-approved ICIs in this setting include the PD-L1 inhibitor avelumab and PD-1 inhibitors pembrolizumab and retifanlimab. In this podcast, we summarize key studies of ICIs in advanced MCC, including clinical trials and real-world studies, and discuss clinical evidence related to practical considerations, such as elective discontinuation of ICI treatment, and treatment of patients with immunocompromised or immunosuppressed status. We also discuss initial findings from studies of ICI-based combinations in patients with advanced MCC and ICI treatment in earlier stages of MCC, and highlight the emerging role of circulating tumor DNA for predicting disease recurrence. Overall, these developments demonstrate the positive impact of ICIs in the treatment of MCC and illustrate ongoing efforts to further improve patient outcomes.

PMID:
42844522
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 08 Oct 2026.

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