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Left-sided laterality of Merkel cell carcinoma in a German population: more than just sun exposure

  • Original Article – Clinical Oncology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

Lateral distribution of cancer has been observed previously. Most evident is this laterality in ultraviolet (UV)-induced skin cancer, based on an unequally distributed UV exposure.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore whether patients from Germany also show asymmetrical lateral distribution of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).

Methods

In total, 115 patients with MCC were studied for laterality of the primary tumour. Correlation of clinical variables with lateral distribution of MCC was investigated as well.

Results

In 64/115 (55.7%) patients, primary tumours were present on the left side, in 37/115 (32.2%) on the right side, and in 14/115 (12.2%) in the midline (P < 0.0001). Excluding the latter localization occurrence of left-sided MCCs (64 of 101/63.4%) was significantly (P = 0.0072) more often observed (1.73–fold) when compared to right-sided tumours (37 of 101/36.6%). The excess of left-sided tumours was found on the head with a left–right ratio of 1.8, trunk of 8, arm of 1.2, and leg of 1.8. There was no significant association between laterality and gender, age, MCPyV status, and anatomic localization of primary tumours including the occurrence in sun-exposed sites.

Conclusions

Occurrence of left-sided MCCs was significantly more often observed when compared to right-sided tumours. Laterality was not associated with tumour presentation at chronically ultraviolet-exposed sites. Hence, the reason for laterality in MCC remains obscure, but likely goes beyond UV exposure.

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Acknowledgements

MCPyV DNA analyses were supported by the National Reference Center for Papilloma- and Polyomaviruses, Grant No. 1369-401. The authors have no conflict of interest with regard to this submission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Skin Cancer Center, Ruhr-University Bochum, Gudrunstraße 56, 44791, Bochum, Germany

    T. Gambichler, M. Dreißigacker, M. Stücker, F. G. Bechara & E. Stockfleth

  2. National Reference Center for Papilloma- and Polyomaviruses, Institute of Virology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    U. Wieland & S. Silling

  3. Dermatopathology Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany

    J. Schaller

  4. Fachklinik Hornheide, Skin Cancer Center, Department of Dermatology and Dermato-Histo-Pathology, Münster, Germany

    H.-J. Schulze

  5. Institute for Pathology, Mülheim/Ruhr, Germany

    F. Oellig

  6. Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, HELIOS St. Elisabeth Hospital Oberhausen, Oberhausen, Germany

    A. Kreuter

  7. Translational Skin Cancer Research, DKTK Partner Site Essen/Düsseldorf, West German Cancer Center, Dermatology, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

    J. C. Becker

Authors
  1. T. Gambichler
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  2. U. Wieland
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  3. S. Silling
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  4. M. Dreißigacker
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  5. J. Schaller
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  6. H.-J. Schulze
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  7. F. Oellig
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  8. A. Kreuter
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  9. M. Stücker
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  10. F. G. Bechara
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  11. E. Stockfleth
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  12. J. C. Becker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Gambichler.

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Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Cite this article

Gambichler, T., Wieland, U., Silling, S. et al. Left-sided laterality of Merkel cell carcinoma in a German population: more than just sun exposure. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 143, 347–350 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-016-2293-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-016-2293-2

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