Postoperative Radiation Therapy Is Indicated for "Low-Risk" Pathologic Stage I Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Region but Not for Other Locations.

Purpose: The role of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) in early stage Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is controversial. We analyzed the role of PORT in preventing local recurrences (LR) among patients with low-risk, pathologic stage I MCC based on the location of the primary tumors: head/neck (HN) versus non-HN sites.

Methods And Materials: One hundred forty-seven patients with MCC were identified that had "low risk" disease (pathologic T1 primary tumor, negative microscopic margins, negative pathologic node status, no immunosuppression or prior systemic therapy).

Enhancing immunogenic responses through CDK4/6 and HIF2α inhibition in Merkel cell carcinoma.

Approximately 50% of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) patients facing this highly aggressive skin cancer initially respond positively to PD-1-based immunotherapy. Nevertheless, the recurrence of MCC post-immunotherapy emphasizes the pressing need for more effective treatments. Recent research has highlighted Cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) as pivotal cell cycle regulators gaining prominence in cancer studies.

Genetic Risk Factors for Early-Onset Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Importance: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer. Of the patients who develop MCC annually, only 4% are younger than 50 years.

Objective: To identify genetic risk factors for early-onset MCC via genomic sequencing.

Merkel cell carcinoma recurrence risk estimation is improved by integrating factors beyond cancer stage: A multivariable model and web-based calculator.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) recurs in 40% of patients. In addition to stage, factors known to affect recurrence risk include: sex, immunosuppression, unknown primary status, age, site of primary tumor, and time since diagnosis.

Purpose: Create a multivariable model and web-based calculator to predict MCC recurrence risk more accurately than stage alone.

Increased risk of recurrence and disease-specific death following delayed postoperative radiation for Merkel cell carcinoma.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is often treated with surgery and postoperative radiation therapy (PORT). The optimal time to initiate PORT (Time-to-PORT [ttPORT]) is unknown.

Purpose: We assessed if delays in ttPORT were associated with inferior outcomes.

Real-world clinical outcomes with avelumab in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma treated in the USA: a multicenter chart review study.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive, cutaneous neuroendocrine neoplasm with annual incidence rates of 0.13-1.6 cases/100,000/year worldwide as of 2018.

Health-related quality of life in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: A cross-sectional survey study.

Background: Patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) often have indolent but symptomatic disease.

Objective: Assessment of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with CTCL.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey study.

Transcription elongation is finely tuned by dozens of regulatory factors.

Understanding the complex network that regulates transcription elongation requires the quantitative analysis of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) activity in a wide variety of regulatory environments. We performed native elongating transcript sequencing (NET-seq) in 41 strains of lacking known elongation regulators, including RNA processing factors, transcription elongation factors, chromatin modifiers, and remodelers. We found that the opposing effects of these factors balance transcription elongation and antisense transcription.

Recurrence and Mortality Risk of Merkel Cell Carcinoma by Cancer Stage and Time From Diagnosis.

Importance: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) often behaves aggressively; however, disease-recurrence data are not captured in national databases, and it is unclear what proportion of patients with MCC experience a recurrence (estimates vary from 27%-77%). Stage-specific recurrence data that includes time from diagnosis would provide more precise prognostic information and contribute to risk-appropriate clinical surveillance.

Objective: To estimate risk of stage-specific MCC recurrence and mortality over time since diagnosis.

Folate hydrolase-1 (FOLH1) is a novel target for antibody-based brachytherapy in Merkel cell carcinoma.

Backgrounds: Folate Hydrolase-1 (FOLH1; PSMA) is a type II transmembrane protein, luminally expressed by solid tumour neo-vasculature. Monoclonal antibody (mAb), J591, is a vehicle for mAb-based brachytherapy in FOLH1+ cancers. Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy that involves placing a radioactive material a short distance from the target tissue (e.

Integrative medicine use in patients with cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma: A cross-sectional survey study.

Objectives: To characterize patterns of integrative medicine (IM) use and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).

Design: Cross-sectional, online survey, created in conjunction with the Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation (CLF).

Setting: A link to the online survey was posted on the CLF Facebook page and emailed to the CLF listserv; 372 survey responses were received.

Prevalence of sexual harassment and sexual assault from patient to provider among women in dermatology and across specialties.

Background: Sexual harassment (SH) includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and hostile conduct that targets someone based on gender and overlaps with some types of sexual assault (SA). SH/SA in health care can occur between providers or between patient and provider. Most studies of SH in medicine focus on SH perpetrated by one health care provider against another, with very few studies examining SH from patient to provider.

Repetitive Behavior Scale for Early Childhood (RBS-EC): Psychometrics and Developmental Effects with a Community Sample.

Restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBIs) occur commonly in young children in the course of typical development, but too frequent or persistent RRBIs have been linked to a variety of psychosocial and neurodevelopmental disorders. Unfortunately, a lack of psychometrically sound, feasible instruments stymies RRBI study and intervention in early childhood. Therefore, this study validated an extant RRBI measure (i.

Narrow excision margins are appropriate for Merkel cell carcinoma when combined with adjuvant radiation: Analysis of 188 cases of localized disease and proposed management algorithm.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) management typically includes surgery with or without adjuvant radiation therapy (aRT). Major challenges include determining surgical margin size and whether aRT is indicated.

Objective: To assess the association of aRT, surgical margin size, and MCC local recurrence.

Clinical benefit of baseline imaging in Merkel cell carcinoma: Analysis of 584 patients.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) guidelines derive from melanoma and do not recommend baseline cross-sectional imaging for most patients. However, MCC is more likely to have metastasized at diagnosis than melanoma.

Objective: To determine how often baseline imaging identifies clinically occult MCC in patients with newly diagnosed disease with and without palpable nodal involvement.

High somatostatin receptor expression and efficacy of somatostatin analogues in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive, high-grade, cutaneous neuroendocrine tumour (NET). Agents blocking programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1 have efficacy in metastatic MCC (mMCC), but half of patients do not derive durable benefit. Somatostatin analogues (SSAs) are commonly used to treat low- and moderate-grade NETs that express somatostatin receptors (SSTRs).

Patterns of distant metastases in 215 Merkel cell carcinoma patients: Implications for prognosis and surveillance.

Approximately one-third of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) patients eventually develop distant metastatic disease. Little is known about whether the location of the primary lesion is predictive of initial distant metastatic site, or if survival likelihood differs depending on the metastatic site. Such data could inform imaging/surveillance practices and improve prognostic accuracy.

Imaging of Merkel Cell Carcinoma: What Imaging Experts Should Know.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor with a higher mortality rate than melanoma. Approximately 40% of MCC patients have nodal or distant metastasis at initial presentation, and one-third of patients will develop distant metastatic disease over their clinical course. Although MCC is rare, its incidence has been steadily increasing.

Should Margin Status of Biopsies Be Included in Dermatopathology Reports? Clinician Preferences and the Importance of Unambiguous Language.

Significant communication occurs between pathologists and clinicians through the dermatopathology report. Our objective was to describe clinician preference about reporting of the margin status of skin biopsies of nonmelanoma skin cancers. An anonymous survey was sent to 243 medical providers who submitted specimens to a single institution university medical center; 50 complete responses from attending-level providers and advance practice providers were received.

Travel burden associated with rare cancers: The example of Merkel cell carcinoma.

Background: There are limited data on the travel burden for cancer patients with rare tumor types, such as Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).

Objective: The objective of this study was to understand the travel burden of MCC patients.

Methods: This study used data from an MCC registry at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA).

Temporal Changes on the Risks and Complications of Posttransplantion Diabetes Mellitus Following Cardiac Transplantation.

Background: Recent changes in the demographic of cardiac donors and recipients have modulated the rate and risk, associated with posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM). We investigated the secular trends of the risk of PTDM at 1 year and 3 years after transplantation over 30 years and explored its effect on major outcomes.

Methods: Three hundred and three nondiabetic patients were followed for a minimum of 36 months, after a first cardiac transplantation performed between 1983 and 2011.

Differential Outcomes Among Immunosuppressed Patients With Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Impact of Immunosuppression Type on Cancer-specific and Overall Survival.

Objectives: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer with higher incidence among whites, elderly, and immunosuppressed patients. Although immunosuppressed MCC patients are at higher risk of recurrence and MCC-related death, it is unknown whether immunosuppression type is associated with differential outcomes.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 89 nonmetastatic MCC patients with a diagnosis of chronic immunosuppression.

Effect of Patient Immune Status on the Efficacy of Radiation Therapy and Recurrence-Free Survival Among 805 Patients With Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: Patients with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) with chronic immunosuppression (IS) have worse outcomes, but the mechanisms are not well understood. We hypothesized that these differences may be mediated in part by differential response to treatment, and we evaluated whether radiation therapy (RT) efficacy is altered among IS compared with immune-competent (IC) patients with MCC.

Methods And Materials: Among 805 patients with MCC, recurrence-free survival (RFS) and patterns of first recurrence were compared between 89 IS and 716 IC patients with stage I to III MCC treated with curative intent.

Parent depressive symptoms and offspring executive functioning.

: Previous research has found mixed results when assessing the association between a parent's history of depressive symptoms and a child's abilities on measures of executive functioning. The purpose of this study was to replicate and expand upon these findings by evaluating the influence of a parent's depressive symptoms on a young person's executive functioning. : As part of a larger study, 135 children (54.