Real-world outcomes with salvage therapies for immune checkpoint inhibitor-resistant Merkel cell carcinoma

Analysis of a prospectively enrolled cohort at the University of Washington (Seattle) evaluated salvage therapies for Merkel cell carcinoma patients with resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Real-world outcomes with salvage therapies were significantly better among patients with acquired resistance to ICI (after initial response) than among patients with primary resistance to ICI. A minority of patients (13%) survived longer than 3 years after salvage initiation, typically following customized, multimodal salvage strategies.