What Increases The Risk Of Merkel Cell Carcinoma?

Weakened Immune System

A weakened immune system can cause an individual to be more susceptible to developing Merkel cell carcinoma because of the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). About eighty percent of Merkel cell carcinoma patients present with MCV in their cancer cells. It is common for an individual to contract the Merkel cell polyomavirus at some point in their lifetime, but it rarely causes any noticeable symptoms or complications. A healthy individual's immune system is able to keep MCV at bay when and if the virus is encountered. However, a patient with a compromised immune system due to medication, disease, or genetics is unable to stop the virus from growing beyond control. When a patient's weakened immune system allows the Merkel cell polyomavirus to flourish, the virus invades cells and causes them to produce a particular protein. This specific protein has the ability to deactivate numerous tumor suppressor genes that are responsible for the inhibition of cancerous cell growth. This mechanism that occurs between MCV and a compromised immune system can increase an individual's risk for developing Merkel cell carcinoma.

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