The Biological and Clinical Aspects of Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Dear Colleagues,

Eleven years ago, Professor Moore and his team discovered the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) DNA integrated clonally into the tumor genome of most Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC). This finding enkindled both interest and, subsequently, research on this rare skin cancer and inspired many researchers investigating the molecular basis and clinical research on MCC. More recently, interest in MCC was further boosted by the observation that this highly aggressive cancer can be readily treated by an immune checkpoint blockade. Based on these research efforts, our understanding of MCC biology and immunology as well as its treatment has improved significantly. However, many questions in both basic and clinical research have yet to be answered, e.g., the cellular origin of MCC, the role of tumor microenvironment in MCC development and immune evasion, the clinical value of differentiating MCPyV-positive and -negative MCC, predictive biomarkers for therapy responsiveness, and salvage therapies for patients who progress under immunotherapy.

In this Special Issue, we will seek advanced knowledge in both basic and clinical research presented in original articles and comprehensive reviews highlighting the latest advances in MCC. We invite submissions that focus on but are not restricted to the molecular basis of the disease, translational investigations of biomarkers for prospective clinical applications, and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in MCC.

Dr. Virve Koljonen
Dr. Weng-Onn Lui
Prof. Dr. Jürgen C. Becker
Guest Editors

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