Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), an aggressive skin cancer with neuroendocrine features, has been found to be associated with a new type of human polyomavirus called Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). Patients diagnosed with MCC have a significantly increased risk of a second primary cancer. We report here the first case of two primary MCCs arising on the face at different times, associated with MCV infection. The tumour on the patient's right cheek was surgically removed, followed by chemoradiation. After a 10-year tumour-free period, a new tumour developed on the patient's left cheek. Histological and immunohistochemical findings were consistent with MCC. The tumours had high MCV copy numbers and expressed large T antigen, which may play a major role in MCV-mediated carcinogenesis. This case highlights the close links between MCC and MCV.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.2340/00015555-1185DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

merkel cell
12
cell carcinoma
8
metachronous merkel
4
carcinoma cheeks
4
cheeks merkel
4
mcc
4
carcinoma mcc
4
mcc aggressive
4
aggressive skin
4
skin cancer
4

Similar Publications

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor with high mortality. It is well known that clonal integration of the Merkel cell polyomavirus into the dermal precursor cells is a hypothesized pathway in Merkel cell carcinoma pathogenesis. Here, we demonstrate a case of Merkel cell carcinoma (primary origin unknown) presenting with high Merkel cell polyomavirus DNA levels in swabs obtained from normal skin.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon aggressive neoplasm, usually arising in sun-exposed skin of the head and neck. By immunohistochemistry, KRT20 and MCPyV positivity are found in about 90% and 80% of MCCs, respectively. Noteworthy, viral status in lip/oral cavity MCCs is poorly known.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Herpesviruses mimic zygotic genome activation to promote viral replication.

Nat Commun

January 2025

Institute of Virology, University Medical Center, and Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwig-University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is crucial for maternal to zygotic transition at the 2-8-cell stage in order to overcome silencing of genes and enable transcription from the zygotic genome. In humans, ZGA is induced by DUX4, a pioneer factor that drives expression of downstream germline-specific genes and retroelements. Here we show that herpesviruses from all subfamilies, papillomaviruses and Merkel cell polyomavirus actively induce DUX4 expression to promote viral transcription and replication.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive cutaneous malignancy with neuroendocrine differentiation. Several molecular pathways have been implicated in MCC development and multiple cell-of-origin candidates have been proposed, including neural crest cells, which express acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). The role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in MCC has not been explored.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!