PD-1 blockade: a therapeutic option for treatment of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma

Br J Dermatol. 2017 Jan;176(1):216-219. doi: 10.1111/bjd.14632. Epub 2016 Oct 23.

Abstract

The immune system is extremely important in the development and progression of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Immune checkpoint blockade has recently been shown to enable efficacious treatment of a variety of tumours. We report the use of an anti-programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) antibody for treatment of a patient with metastatic MCC. An 80-year-old patient with metastatic MCC received off-label treatment with the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab after the disease had progressed during therapy with oral etoposide. A positron emission tomography (PET) computed tomography scan performed after three cycles of pembrolizumab revealed responses to therapy with reduced size of the adrenal gland metastases and less PET activity in the adrenal gland and lymph node metastases. Treatment was resumed owing to disease progression after a treatment-free interval of > 4 months. During subsequent months of treatment, the size of the metastases stabilized and uptake of nuclide by all tumour sites once again decreased. These results reveal the potential efficacy of an anti-PD-1 antibody for treatment of metastatic MCC. Thus, they contribute to currently limited data on the use of anti-PD-1 antibodies for the treatment of MCC. Moreover, this is the first report of successful resumption of treatment of metastatic MCC with an anti-PD-1 antibody. Results from ongoing trials will contribute to determination of the relevance of PD-1 blockade in metastatic MCC.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / secondary
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • pembrolizumab