Real-world treatment outcomes in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma treated with chemotherapy in the USA

June 13, 2017

Journal

Future Oncology

Publication Date

June 13, 2017

Authors

Cowey C, Mahnke L, Espirito J, Helwig C, Oksen D, Bharmal M

Abstract

Aim: This retrospective study of patients in the USA with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC) aimed to assess patient responses to second-line and later (2L+) and first-line (1L) chemotherapy.

Patients & methods: Out of 686 patients with MCC identified in The
US Oncology Network, 20 and 67 patients with mMCC qualified for the 2L+ and 1L study, respectively; the primary analysis population was restricted to immunocompetent patients.

Results: In the 2L+ primary analysis population, objective response rate (ORR) was 28.6%, median duration of response (DOR) was 1.7 months and median progression-free survival was 2.2 months. In the 1L primary analysis population, ORR was 29.4%, median DOR was 6.7 months and median progression-free survival was 4.6 months.

Conclusion: The low ORR and brief DOR underscore the need for novel therapies.

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Footnotes