Efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

Abstract Background Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer characterized by high rates of metastasis. Emerging evidence suggests that PD-L1/PD1 blockade holds promise as a therapeutic option for MCC. However, the efficacy and safety of this approach in treati...

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Main Authors: Francisco Cezar Aquino de Moraes, Michele Kreuz, Isabella Christina Amaral de Lara, Artur de Oliveira Macena Lôbo, Rommel Mario Rodríguez Burbano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:BMC Cancer
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-13129-1
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author Francisco Cezar Aquino de Moraes
Michele Kreuz
Isabella Christina Amaral de Lara
Artur de Oliveira Macena Lôbo
Rommel Mario Rodríguez Burbano
author_facet Francisco Cezar Aquino de Moraes
Michele Kreuz
Isabella Christina Amaral de Lara
Artur de Oliveira Macena Lôbo
Rommel Mario Rodríguez Burbano
author_sort Francisco Cezar Aquino de Moraes
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer characterized by high rates of metastasis. Emerging evidence suggests that PD-L1/PD1 blockade holds promise as a therapeutic option for MCC. However, the efficacy and safety of this approach in treating MCC remain incompletely understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to analyze the efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade for patients with MCC. Methods PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase were searched for studies evaluating patients with MCC undergoing PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. The estimated outcomes were overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). We performed the meta-analysis using RStudio v4.4.2 software. Results A total of 14 reports of 13 different studies encompassing 615 patients were included. The median age ranged from 64 to 77 years. Median follow-up ranged from 7.9 months to 59.3 months. Pooled OS rates at 24 and 36 months were 65.05% (95% CI 44.04–81.49) and 59.58% (95% CI 39.62–76.81), respectively, while pooled PFS rates at 6, 12, and 36 months were 51.78% (95% CI 37.83–65.45), 46.12% (95% CI 29.44–63.72), and 28.73% (95% CI 16.57–45.02), in the same order. DCR proportion was 61.65% (95% CI 54.85–68.03) and ORR was 53.79% (95% CI 47.80-59.68). The frequency of TRAEs of any grade was 61.72% (95% CI 45.75–75.51) and for TRAEs of grade ≥ 3 was 17.60% (95% CI 12.28 to 24.57). Conclusions This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that patients with MCC undergoing treatment with PD-1/PDL-1 showed durable responses with continuous and clinically meaningful survival outcomes. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj-art-aa2f348fe8c44e6cbce23690edd53adb2025-08-20T02:13:28ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072024-11-0124111310.1186/s12885-024-13129-1Efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma: a systematic review and Meta-analysisFrancisco Cezar Aquino de Moraes0Michele Kreuz1Isabella Christina Amaral de Lara2Artur de Oliveira Macena Lôbo3Rommel Mario Rodríguez Burbano4Federal University of ParáLutheran University of BrazilCesumar UniversityFederal University Of PernambucoFederal University of ParáAbstract Background Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer characterized by high rates of metastasis. Emerging evidence suggests that PD-L1/PD1 blockade holds promise as a therapeutic option for MCC. However, the efficacy and safety of this approach in treating MCC remain incompletely understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to analyze the efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade for patients with MCC. Methods PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase were searched for studies evaluating patients with MCC undergoing PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. The estimated outcomes were overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). We performed the meta-analysis using RStudio v4.4.2 software. Results A total of 14 reports of 13 different studies encompassing 615 patients were included. The median age ranged from 64 to 77 years. Median follow-up ranged from 7.9 months to 59.3 months. Pooled OS rates at 24 and 36 months were 65.05% (95% CI 44.04–81.49) and 59.58% (95% CI 39.62–76.81), respectively, while pooled PFS rates at 6, 12, and 36 months were 51.78% (95% CI 37.83–65.45), 46.12% (95% CI 29.44–63.72), and 28.73% (95% CI 16.57–45.02), in the same order. DCR proportion was 61.65% (95% CI 54.85–68.03) and ORR was 53.79% (95% CI 47.80-59.68). The frequency of TRAEs of any grade was 61.72% (95% CI 45.75–75.51) and for TRAEs of grade ≥ 3 was 17.60% (95% CI 12.28 to 24.57). Conclusions This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that patients with MCC undergoing treatment with PD-1/PDL-1 showed durable responses with continuous and clinically meaningful survival outcomes. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-13129-1Merkel cell carcinomaSkin cancerPD-1/PD-L1 inhibitorsMeta-analysis
spellingShingle Francisco Cezar Aquino de Moraes
Michele Kreuz
Isabella Christina Amaral de Lara
Artur de Oliveira Macena Lôbo
Rommel Mario Rodríguez Burbano
Efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma: a systematic review and Meta-analysis
BMC Cancer
Merkel cell carcinoma
Skin cancer
PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors
Meta-analysis
title Efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma: a systematic review and Meta-analysis
title_full Efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma: a systematic review and Meta-analysis
title_fullStr Efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma: a systematic review and Meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma: a systematic review and Meta-analysis
title_short Efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma: a systematic review and Meta-analysis
title_sort efficacy and safety of pd 1 pd l1 inhibitors in patients with merkel cell carcinoma a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Merkel cell carcinoma
Skin cancer
PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors
Meta-analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-13129-1
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