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The Merkel cell carcinoma: survival and oncogene markers
Author(s) -
Jemec B,
Chana J,
Grover R,
Grobbelaar Ao
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-3083.2000.00118.x
Subject(s) - merkel cell carcinoma , medicine , merkel cell , oncogene , immunohistochemistry , mitotic index , oncology , flow cytometry , adjuvant radiotherapy , radiation therapy , proliferation index , survival analysis , pathology , cancer research , carcinoma , cancer , cell cycle , mitosis , immunology , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Background Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and malignant tumour. Survival data and prognostic factors are scarce. Aim To investigate the usefulness of biological markers to predict the prognosis for these aggressive tumours. Methods C‐myc oncoprotein and proliferation was analysed in specimens from 13 patients with MCC, treated between 1983 and 1997. The average age at presentation was 68.3 years. Overall follow‐up ranged from 14 to 158 months, with a mean of 68.2 months. Specimens were analysed by immunohistochemistry for proliferation (mib‐1) and flow cytometry for oncogene activity (c‐myc). Results The median positivity was 52% for the c‐myc oncogene and 50% for proliferation, but these did not correlate to survival as analysed by the Kaplan–Meier method. Other parameters such as median age at presentation, sex, site of tumour and adjuvant radiotherapy were also analysed, but none were found to be significant. Conclusions This study showed that neither c‐myc oncogene activity or mitotic index in MCC can be related to patient survival.