Premium
Merkel cell carcinoma: is this a true carcinoma?
Author(s) -
Jankowski Marek,
Kopinski Piotr,
Schwartz Robert,
Czajkowski Rafal
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/exd.12490
Subject(s) - merkel cell carcinoma , merkel cell polyomavirus , merkel cell , pax5 , chromogranin a , terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase , biology , cancer research , cell of origin , neuroendocrine differentiation , carcinoma , pathology , cell , immunohistochemistry , gene , cancer , immunology , medicine , genetics , transcription factor , prostate cancer , tunel assay
Recent years have brought an enhanced understanding of Merkel cell carcinoma ( MCC ) biology, especially with regard to the Merkel cell polyoma virus as a causative agent. Differences between Merkel cell polyomavirus‐positive and Merkel cell polyomavirus‐negative MCC in morphology, , gene expression, mi RNA profiles and prognosis have been reported. Origin of MCC is controversial. Presence of neurosecretory granules has suggested that these carcinomas originate from one of the neurocrest derivatives, most probably Merkel cells; the name Merkel cell carcinoma is now widely accepted. Expression of PGP 9.5, chromogranin A and several neuropeptides, initially regarded as specific markers for neural and neuroendocrine cells, has recently been shown in a subset of lymphomas. MCC commonly expresses terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase and PAX 5. Their co‐expression under physiologic circumstances is restricted to pro/pre‐B cells and pre‐B cells. These findings lead to the hypothesis by zur Hausen et al. that MCC originates from early B cells. This review was intended to critically appraise zur Hausen's hypothesis and discuss the possibility that MCC is a heterogenous entity with distinct subtypes.