Comprehensive Ablative Radiation Therapy for Carcinoma, Merkel Cell
This study is evaluating whether a combination of radiation and a drug may help treat Merkel cell carcinoma.
See full descriptionAbout the trial for Carcinoma, Merkel Cell
Treatment Groups
This trial involves 2 different treatments. Comprehensive Ablative Radiation Therapy is the primary treatment being studied. Participants will be divided into 2 treatment groups. There is no placebo group. The treatments being tested are in Phase 2 and have already been tested with other people.
About The Treatment
Eligibility
This trial is for patients born any sex aged 18 and older. There are 10 eligibility criteria to participate in this trial as listed below.
Approximate Timelines
Measurement Requirements
This trial is evaluating whether Comprehensive Ablative Radiation Therapy will improve 1 primary outcome and 1 secondary outcome in patients with Carcinoma, Merkel Cell. Measurement will happen over the course of up to 12 weeks.
Patient Q & A Section
What are common treatments for carcinoma, merkel cell?
A variety of therapies have been used at various times in the past. Survival is better in MM and MCL than in other carcinomas. Chemotherapy is useful for MM and MCL in certain types. The exact role of radiation therapy in MM and MCL needs further study, especially in MCL on a large scale with long-term follow-up.
What are the signs of carcinoma, merkel cell?
Some signs include painless, slow onset bleeding gums or gums that are bright red, the sensation of teeth brushing is unpleasant, and gums which have a whitish, yellowish-orange or pinkish-red base, with a yellow, brown or black middle.\n\nFor patients with signs of cancer, medical practitioners should take a family history of any form of cancer, including those of the digestive tract and the urinary system.\n\nTests for signs of cancer includes physical examination as well as an x-ray test, PET scan, CT scan, MRI scan, and endoscopy.
Can carcinoma, merkel cell be cured?
Patients with carcinoma, merkel cell of the adrenal gland should be considered a group of patients needing well-planned follow-up and surveillance as the disease evolves, as carcinoma, merkel cell of the adrenal gland is highly aggressive and usually disseminates early to lymph nodes.
What is carcinoma, merkel cell?
MCC is a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that often arises in the head and neck region and has an excellent long-term outcome. It is a unique lymphoma, because, in contrast to many other types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, it is almost exclusively associated with mutations in the "KIT" gene.
What causes carcinoma, merkel cell?
MCC is rare. Previous exposure to ionizing radiation is a very strong risk factor. Chemotherapy, smoking, and other environmental (genetic and lifestyle, nutritional) effects appear to be less important or have not been studied adequately in the literature. Other factors, such as a family history of MCC is unknown or unclear. These factors cannot be tested definitively for MCC. Many of the hypotheses can be challenged by future research.
How many people get carcinoma, merkel cell a year in the United States?
About 8.0 million people in the United States are admitted for treatment of merkel cell carcinoma and 1140 patients will develop merkel cell carcinoma each year. Merkel cell carcinoma is the second most common primary site of metastasis in patients with multiple myeloma after multiple myeloma. Patients suffering from multiple myeloma have an increased risk of developing systemic disease in the form of carcinoma, merkel cell carcinoma.
What is the average age someone gets carcinoma, merkel cell?
This finding is in agreement with a large body of literature and the consensus among many experts that most (70%) carcinomas arise from a small group of precursor lesions referred to as field changes. Clinically, most merkel-cell carcinomas do not develop until after the second decade of life is achieved. A subset of carcinomas, approximately 10% to 15%, occur in the first decade of life and represent the most aggressive types. These children are likely to develop lymph node and distant metastases, with more frequent local recurrences and late distant relapses than adolescents and young adults. To prevent this, we must focus efforts on prevention in infancy through maternal immunization and vaccination of children younger than 3 years.
Is comprehensive ablative radiation therapy typically used in combination with any other treatments?
For the purposes of treatment planning and determination of disease control using ablative RT alone, the standard practice of combining ablative RT with other modalities without any clinical evidence should be abolished.
What are the latest developments in comprehensive ablative radiation therapy for therapeutic use?
The last 20 years have seen a dramatic increase in treatment options for localized malignancies. These advances were driven by improvements in imaging and radiation physics technology, and a greater understanding of the molecular underpinnings of disease. Many of these advances have expanded treatment opportunities for patients with stage I-III squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The development of brachytherapy has revolutionized the treatment of head and neck cancer, providing durable control of disease in over 90% of patients and in many cases preserving the facial and oral structures.
Have there been other clinical trials involving comprehensive ablative radiation therapy?
There are few contemporary clinical trials that use the ABIRIT techniques that produce a complete response. As such, the data on [LRR, disease-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival] may be too [unclear] to allow an accurate prediction of the outcome of one's treatment. One trial was published after the second article had been submitted for this project. As a result, we cannot determine whether ABIRIT is better than traditional RT-RT in [LRR], DFS, or DMFS. ABIRIT techniques may be [effective] in the future. However, we know that many people receive conventional RT as standard of care.
Does comprehensive ablative radiation therapy improve quality of life for those with carcinoma, merkel cell?
Comprehensive ablative radiation therapy for malignant tumors of the scalp and face may produce good long-term disease control with better quality of life than a less intense initial radiotherapy approach or no RT.
Does carcinoma, merkel cell run in families?
The occurrence of carcinoma in a first degree relative within the last 20 generations is a rare finding in most populations. It is not so rare in Japan that it warrants consideration as a hereditary tumour. The possible mechanism by which this occurrence of MCC could result from a genetic mutation, rather than environmental influences, remains speculative.