RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma response to nivolumab JF Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer JO J Immunother Cancer FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 79 DO 10.1186/s40425-016-0186-1 VO 4 IS 1 A1 Frances M. Walocko A1 Benjamin Y. Scheier A1 Paul W. Harms A1 Leslie A. Fecher A1 Christopher D. Lao YR 2016 UL http://jitc.bmj.com/content/4/1/79.abstract AB Background Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine malignancy with limited treatment options. Several lines of evidence support the programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) axis as a likely contributor to immune evasion in MCC.Case presentation We report a case of a patient with metastatic MCC with a significant and durable response to nivolumab, a humanized IgG4 monoclonal anti-PD-1 antibody.Conclusion Immunotherapy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors has become a rational and promising treatment option for MCC in the advanced or metastatic disease. Clinical trials are currently in progress to further evaluate these novel therapeutic agents.Abbreviations:CTComputed tomographyFDAFood and Drug AdministrationFDGFluorodeoxyglucoseIgGImmunoglobulin GkgKilogramMCCMerkel cell carcinomaMCPyVMerkel cell polyomavirusmgMilligramPDProgrammed deathPD-L1programmed death-ligand 1PETPositron emission tomography