Avelumab: a new standard for treating metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma

Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy
Mairead BakerIsaac Brownell

Abstract

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive skin cancer. Although MCC is chemosensitive, responses to traditional chemotherapeutic agents are not durable. Avelumab, a novel anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, recently became the first FDA-approved agent for the treatment of metastatic MCC and represents a new option to improve patient survival. Areas covered: This article presents an overview of MCC and summarizes the development of avelumab in the treatment of metastatic MCC. Preclinical studies, phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials, and the safety profile of avelumab are reviewed. Future perspectives and ongoing studies are also discussed. Expert commentary: Avelumab demonstrated rapid and durable responses and a manageable safety profile in the treatment of metastatic MCC. Patient outcomes are favorable when compared to historical responses to standard chemotherapy. Ongoing clinical trials will continue to characterize avelumab and its optimal use in MCC therapy.

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Citations

Jan 9, 2019·Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology·Marco GalloUNKNOWN NIKE Group
Mar 2, 2019·Dermatology and Therapy·Alessia VillaniMassimiliano Scalvenzi
Jan 27, 2019·PharmacoEconomics Open·Ash BullementMurtuza Bharmal
Oct 6, 2018·Nature Reviews. Clinical Oncology·Paul W HarmsUNKNOWN International Workshop on Merkel Cell Carcinoma Research (IWMCC) Working Group
Aug 31, 2019·Dermatologic Clinics·Drew A Emge, Adela R Cardones
Dec 20, 2019·Genes & Diseases·Xianghu JiangYunbao Pan

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