Photo Credit: Ciphotos
Annhanced Model that integrates no-AJCC clinical features provides clinicians with a more accurate tool for identifying high-risk patients with MCC.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC), Rare and Aggressive Skin Cancer with Increasing Global Incidence, Predominantly Affects Older Individuals and Often Presents at Advanced Stages, According to the Researchers of A Recent Study Published Online Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Current Prognostication Relies on the American Joint Cancer Committee (AJCC) Eighth Edition Staging System, Which Stratifies Patients Based on Overall Survival For Their Study, Researchers Southt to compare dsd and As Survival Endpoints and Develop Annhanced Prognostic Model Incorporating addinonal non-AJcc Features to Improve Survival Predictions.
The Study Analyzed 10,958 Patients with Mcc from the US and 102 Patients from the UK, Using Multivariable Fine and Gray (FG) competition risk. Results showed that dsd was a more reliable endpoint than for mcc staging, the it better-sratified survival probabilities across stages. ADDITIONAL FACTORS SIGNERLY ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED DSD INCLUDED TRUNCAL TUMOR LOCATION, ADVANCED AGE (> 84 YEARS), MALE SEX, AND UNMARRIED STATUS. Incorporating these features into the fg model significantly improved prognostic acuzzucy compared to the ajcc system Alone, with agreement indices of 0.75 (US) and 0.77 (UK) for dsd predictions (Figure).
Tumor-Specific Features Such AS SITE, SIZE, AND LEVEL OF INVASION WERE ALSO IMPORTANT PREDICTORS OF SURVIVAL. The Authors NOTED that mcc tumors on the trunk were associated with the walk outcomes, likely due to diagnostic and treatment challenges. The Study Highlighted the Prognostic Significance of Tumor Invasion into the Subcutis, the feature not currently included in ajcc staging but proposed as a high-torisk factor for future revision.
By Integrating Non-AJCC Clinical and Tumor Features, The Enhanced Model Provides Clinicians with a More Accurate Tool for Identifying High-Risk Patients with MCC. ACCORDING TO THE STUDY TEAM, this improvement could guide personalized Treatment Decisions and Surveillance Strategies. The Findings also Underscored the Need For Future Updates to MCC Staging Systems and Prospective Studies to Refine These Models for Broader Clinical Application.
