Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma After Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation: Fatal Outcomes

J Drugs Dermatol. 2024 May 1;23(5):376-379. doi: 10.36849/JDD.8234.

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, highly aggressive cutaneous malignancy. Immunosuppression increases the risk of MCC and is associated with poor prognosis. Organ transplant recipients (OTR) have worse overall survival (OS) than patients with immunosuppression due to other causes. Treating MCC after organ transplantation is challenging, as checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy, the standard of care for treating MCC, increases the risk of transplant rejection. This paper reviews the cases of two simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant (SPKT) recipients with MCC and explores the role of immunosuppression in the development of MCC. Immunosuppression was discontinued and checkpoint inhibitor therapy was initiated in the first patient and considered by the second patient. In both cases, treatment failed, and the patients died shortly after developing metastatic MCC. These cases illustrate the need for improved multidisciplinary treatment regimens for MCC in OTRs. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(5):376-377.     doi:10.36849/JDD.8234 &nbsp.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Merkel Cell* / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Merkel Cell* / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Merkel Cell* / surgery
  • Carcinoma, Merkel Cell* / therapy
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / adverse effects
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Kidney Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Pancreas Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Immunosuppressive Agents