Molecular characterization of virus-positive and virus-negative Merkel cell carcinoma

Authors:

Varsha Prakash, Sharon Wu, Alex Farrell, Farah Abdulla, Curtis Perry, Ling Gao, Sourat Darabi, Soo Park

Key Findings:

  • Merkel Cell Polyomavirus (MCPyV)-positive and -negative Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) are molecularly distinct tumor subtypes that are differentiated by their TMB and mutational profiles.
  • Profiling data suggest that NK cell-stimulating agents and MAPK inhibitors may be beneficial in MCPyV-negative MCC. These findings warrant further investigation to optimize use of ICIs and identify therapeutic targets.