Commentary
Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2007) 127, 2100–2103. doi:10.1038/sj.jid.5700925
Merkel Cell Carcinoma: More Deaths but Still No Pathway to Blame
Bianca Lemos1 and Paul Nghiem1
1University of Washington Dermatology/Medicine, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA.
Correspondence: Dr Paul Nghiem, 815 Mercer Street, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA. E-mail: pnghiem@u.washington.edu
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a neuroendocrine skin cancer with a rising incidence (1500 U.S. cases per year) that now exceeds that of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and a mortality (33%) exceeding that of melanoma. Despite this impact, little is known about its biology. Recent studies have shown that Ras/MAP kinase activity is absent and possibly detrimental to this cancer. This makes MCC distinct from other UV-induced skin cancers and highlights the question of what drives this malignancy.
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