Key result
Radiation therapy for Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck achieved 5-year actuarial local and regional control rates of 96% and a 5-year cause-specific survival rate of 76%.
Why the study?
Does radiation therapy provide effective locoregional control and survival in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck?
Cohort (n=106)
No
Does radiation therapy provide effective locoregional control and survival in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck?
Radiation therapy offers excellent locoregional control for Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck, including successful treatment of gross nodal disease without neck dissection.
May support RT-based control in head and neck MCC; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective trials before practice change.
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to report the outcomes of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the head and neck using a radiation-based treatment approach. METHODS: We reviewed records of 106 consecutive patients with MCC of the head and neck treated with radiation therapy (RT) at our institution between 1988 and 2011. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate outcomes and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated. RESULTS: The 5-year actuarial local and regional control rates were 96% and 96%, respectively. There were no regional recurrences in 22 patients treated with RT to gross nodal disease without neck dissection. The 5-year cause-specific survival rate was 76%. Lymphadenopathy at presentation impacted distant metastatic-free survival outcomes (p < .001). Treatment was well tolerated with only 5 patients having grade ≥3 toxicities. CONCLUSION: For MCC of the head and neck, a management strategy that includes RT offers excellent locoregional control. Gross nodal disease can be successfully treated with RT.
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Bishop et al. (2015) conducted a cohort in Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck (n=106). Radiation therapy was evaluated on 5-year actuarial local and regional control rates. Radiation therapy for Merkel cell carcinoma of the head and neck achieved 5-year actuarial local and regional control rates of 96% and a 5-year cause-specific survival rate of 76%.
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