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Li Z, Ji W, Hu Q, Zhu P, Jin Y, Duan G. Current status of Merkel cell carcinoma: Epidemiology, pathogenesis and prognostic factors. Virology 2024; 599:110186. [PMID: 39098121 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an extremely rare cutaneous neuroendocrine cancer, with an incidence approximately 40 times lower than that of malignant melanoma; however, its significantly inferior survival rate compared to melanoma establishes MCC as the most lethal form of skin cancer. In recent years, a substantial body of literature has demonstrated a gradual increase in the incidence of MCC. Although the two factors that contribute to MCC, ultraviolet radiation and Merkel cell polyomavirus infection, have been well established, the specific pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear. Additionally, considering the high lethality and recurrence rates of MCC, as well as the absence of specific antitumor drugs, it is crucial to elucidate the factors that can accurately predict patients' outcomes. In this review, we summarized the significant advancements in the epidemiological characteristics, pathogenesis, and the factors that influence patient prognosis of MCC to enhance clinical practices and public health efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijie Li
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Wangquan Ji
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Quanman Hu
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Peiyu Zhu
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Yuefei Jin
- Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Henan Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou Children's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450018, China.
| | - Guangcai Duan
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
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Šenigl F, Soikkeli A, Prost S, Schatz DG, Slavková M, Hejnar J, Alinikula J. The SV40 virus enhancer functions as a somatic hypermutation-targeting element with potential oncogenic activity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.09.574829. [PMID: 38260396 PMCID: PMC10802419 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.09.574829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a monkey virus associated with several types of human cancers. SV40 is most frequently detected in mesotheliomas, brain and bone tumors and lymphomas, but the mechanism for SV40 tumorigenesis in humans is not clear. SV40 relative Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) causes Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in humans by expressing truncated large tumor antigen (LT) caused by APOBEC cytidine deaminase family enzymes induced mutations. AID (activation-induced cytidine deaminase), a member of the APOBEC family, is the initiator of the antibody diversification process known as somatic hypermutation (SHM) and its aberrant expression and targeting is a frequent source of lymphomagenesis. In this study, we investigated whether AID-induced mutations could cause truncation of SV40 LT. We demonstrate that the SV40 enhancer has strong SHM targeting activity in several cell types and that AID-induced mutations accumulate to SV40 LT in B cells and kidney cells and cause truncated LT expression in B cells. Our results argue that the ability of the SV40 enhancer to target SHM to LT is a potential source of LT truncation events in various cell types that could contribute to carcinogenesis.
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Robb TJ, Ward Z, Houseman P, Woodhouse B, Patel R, Fitzgerald S, Tsai P, Lawrence B, Parker K, Print CG, Blenkiron C. Chromosomal Aberrations Accumulate during Metastasis of Virus-Negative Merkel Cell Carcinoma. J Invest Dermatol 2023; 143:1168-1177.e2. [PMID: 36736454 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive skin tumor initiated by polyomavirus integration or UV light DNA damage. In New Zealand, there is a propensity toward the UV-driven form (31 of 107, 29% virus positive). Using archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, we report targeted DNA sequencing covering 246 cancer genes on 71 tumor tissues and 38 nonmalignant tissues from 37 individuals, with 33 of 37 being negative for the virus. Somatic variants of New Zealand virus-negative Merkel cell carcinomas partially overlapped with those reported overseas, including TP53 variants in all tumors and RB1, LRP1B, NOTCH1, and EPHA3/7 variants each found in over half of the cohort. Variants in genes not analyzed or reported in previous studies were also found. Cataloging variants in TP53 and RB1 from published datasets revealed a broad distribution across these genes. Chr 1p gain and Chr 3p loss were identified in around 50% of New Zealand virus-negative Merkel cell carcinomas, and RB1 loss of heterozygosity was found in 90% of cases. Copy number variants accumulate in most metastases. Virus-negative Merkel cell carcinomas have complex combinations of somatic DNA-sequence variants and copy number variants. They likely carry the small genomic changes permissive for metastasis from early tumor development; however, chromosomal alterations may contribute to driving metastatic progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamsin J Robb
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Hosted by the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Zoe Ward
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Pascalene Houseman
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Braden Woodhouse
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rachna Patel
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sandra Fitzgerald
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Hosted by the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Peter Tsai
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Hosted by the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ben Lawrence
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Hosted by the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kate Parker
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Cristin G Print
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Hosted by the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Cherie Blenkiron
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Hosted by the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
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