2017 October

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but potentially lethal skin cancer that has traditionally been treated with surgery, radiation, and in advanced cases, chemotherapy. Patients with even localized disease have a high risk of recurrence and those who develop metastatic disease have had a poor overall survival.

A new study published in the August 7 issue of <em>Nature</em> identified genes that are necessary in cancer cells for immunotherapy to work, addressing the problem of why some tumors do not respond to immunotherapy or respond initially but then stop as tumor cells develop resistance to immunotherapy.

The researchers review intra-arterial therapies and the latest literature supporting their use, categorized by different tumor types.

Four tumor serum markers commonly used in other solid tumors could be used in monitoring therapeutic outcomes in patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma, according to a single-center retrospective analysis.

Although preclinical data are promising, there are many clinical challenges in developing CAR T-cell therapy in acute myeloid leukemia.