Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a carcinoma arising from Merkel cells located in the basal layer of the epidermis. The skin of the head and neck is a common site for MCC, occurring generally in fair-skinned elderly patients. MCC is considered as the most lethal skin cancer. Radical surgical excision with pathological verification of complete removal of the tumour is the recommended treatment. Early MCC can be cured by surgery with or without postoperative radiation therapy, whereas advanced MCC is currently considered to be incurable. In the year 2008, a new polyoma virus was found in the tumour genome of the MCC tumours. MCPyV (Merkel cell polyoma virus) appears to be the first example of a human oncogenic polyoma virus. Specific mutations in the viral genome and its clonal integration to the tumour genome are strong evidence against MCPyV as being a passenger virus that secondarily infects MCC tumours. The purpose of this review article is to shed light on this rare skin cancer and introduce the latest advances in research on MCC.
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