Support for p63 expression as an adverse prognostic marker in Merkel cell carcinoma: report on a Canadian cohort

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive skin cancer that occurs most frequently in the elderly on sun-exposed sites. A new virus belonging to the Polyomaviridae family and named Merkel cell polyo-mavirus (MCPyV) has recently [1] been identiﬁ ed in tumor tissues from patients with Merkel cell carci-noma (MCC). Furthermore, interferon-alpha (IFN) demonstrated an

Merkel cell polyomavirus

Merkel cell

Interferon alfa

10.3109/0284186x.2010.512924

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Citations (39)

Seeking Standards for the Detection of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus and its Clinical Significance

Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2017)

Mary Eid Jannett Nguyen Isaac Brownell

Merkel cell polyomavirus

Merkel cell

10.1016/j.jid.2016.12.024

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Citations (16)

MOC‐31/Ep‐CAM immunoreactivity in Merkel cells and Merkel cell carcinomas

Histopathology (2003)

Tomás García‐Caballero E. Pintos Rosalı́a Gallego Concepción Parrado Montserrat Blanco

Aims: To evaluate the monoclonal antibody MOC‐31 in Merkel cell carcinomas and normal Merkel cells. Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive tumour that occurs mainly in elderly individuals. The histological diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma can be difficult because it looks similar to other small blue cell tumours, particularly skin metastases of small‐cell lung carcinomas. This antibody recognizes the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep‐CAM), that has been assigned to the small cell lung cancer cluster 2 of antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, immunostaining for MOC‐31/Ep‐CAM has not been previously described in Merkel cells or Merkel cell carcinomas. Methods and results: Thirty‐one cases of Merkel cell carcinoma and three samples of normal human fingertip were selected to analyse the expression of MOC‐31/Ep‐CAM by immunohistochemistry. A high number of Merkel cell carcinomas (21/31, 67.7%) showed intense and readily interpretable positivity. Immunostaining was diffuse or focal and always localized to the plasma membrane. Normal Merkel cells of human fingertip also showed plasma membrane immunoreactivity for MOC‐31/Ep‐CAM. Conclusion: The demonstration of positivity for MOC‐31/Ep‐CAM in Merkel cell carcinomas precludes the use of this immunohistochemical marker to distinguish between tumours and skin metastases of small‐cell lung carcinoma.

Merkel cell

Immunostaining

Merkel cell polyomavirus

10.1046/j.1365-2559.2003.01727.x

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Citations (25)

MOC-31, Cytokeratin 7 and S-100 Protein Immunoreactivity in Merkel Cell and Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Springer eBooks (2003)

Tomás García‐Caballero E. Pintos Rosalı́a Gallego Concepción Parrado Marı́a José Blanco

Merkel cell

Immunostaining

Merkel cell polyomavirus