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New research · Ophthalmology
Indian journal of ophthalmology · 11h
Systematic reviewIndian journal of ophthalmology · 2026

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for treatment of periocular Merkel cell carcinoma: A systematic review of clinical outcomes and safety.

Gillian A Folk, Winston Lee, Marissa K Shoji
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OphthalmologySystematic review

Immune checkpoint inhibitors linked to complete response in most periocular Merkel cell carcinoma cases.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for treatment of periocular Merkel cell carcinoma: A systematic review of clinical outcomes and safety.

Gillian A Folk … Marissa K Shoji
Indian journal of ophthalmology · 2026
Background

Merkel cell carcinoma (merkel cell carcinoma) is a rare, aggressive neurocutaneous malignancy associated with ultraviolet damage, immunosuppression, and Merkel cell polyoma virus infection.

Methods

With both localized periocular disease and metastatic involvement demonstrated favorable responses to immune checkpoint inhibitor.

n = 6
90%
Results
90%
9 of 10 patients' tumors fully disappeared after treatment
n = 6
More results

Thus, this study summarizes and evaluates the effectiveness and safety of ICIs for periocular merkel cell carcinoma.

Non-human studies, non-periocular merkel cell carcinoma, and reports without immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment were excluded.

More results

Extracted data included patient demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment regimen, and patient outcomes.

Treatment regimens consisted of pembrolizumab (n = 6) and avelumab (n = 3), or both medications (n = 1).

“
Conclusion

ICIs may be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for local and advanced periocular merkel cell carcinoma; however, larger, prospective studies are needed.

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