Current AJCC Pathological Staging System For MCC Better Discriminates DSD Than OS, Study Finds

Dermatology Advisor (12/30, Stong) reports, “The current American Joint Cancer Committee (AJCC) pathological staging system for Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) better discriminates disease-specific death (DSD) than overall survival (OS), according to study results.” Researchers came to this conclusion after assessing “patients with MCC to determine whether DSD or OS was better stratified by current AJCC staging and to develop a multivariable model that enhances the system’s prognostic ability.” The findings were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.