Avelumab and pembrolizumab for the treatment of merkel cell carcinoma

Sandra P. D'Angelo, MD, from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY discusses potential treatments, namely with PD1 inhibitors, for merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). She notes that pembrolizumab has displayed positive results in past clinical trials and avelumab has now received FDA approval for MCC. MCC patients who have received avelumab in trials have displayed high responses, as described by Dr. D’Angelo and although there is a need for long-term follow-up, current data is promising and she is hopeful that avelumab will become the standard of care for MCC patients in the future.