Abstract 1080 Transcriptome analysis for Merkel cell carcinoma patients testing positive (+) and negative (-) for Polyomavirus

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive primary cutaneous malignancy with neuroendocrine differentiation. Approximately 3,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in the United States, with incidence rates rising partly due to advancements in diagnostic methods. The exact cause of MCC is unknown, but several potential etiologies have been proposed, including exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and integration of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). MCPyV has been detected in up to 80% of MCC tumors in the United States, and its presence is associated with a better prognosis, with a five-year overall survival (OS) rate of approximately 50%.