Merckel cell carcinoma of the skin treated with somatostatin analogue and mTOR inhibitor exhausted after primary surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy and palliative chemotherapy

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine skin tumor. This type of tumor is primarily based on Merkel cells located in the basal layer of the epidermis. The tumor occurs predominantly in elderly individuals (average age 69 years) and has a strong tendency to local recurrence and locoregional metastasis. Diagnosis of the tumor is based on histological and immunohistochemical examination. The therapy is radical surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy to the site of the primary tumor and regional lymph nodes. The authors describe a case report of Merkel cell carcinoma of the skin treated with somatostatin analogue and mTOR inhibitor exhausted after primary surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy and paliative chemotherapy.