Rewriting the standard of care
Historically, treatment options for metastatic or recurring MCC have been limited and outcomes uncertain — but that is changing. Fueled by philanthropy, Nghiem and his team led clinical trials establishing existing immunotherapy drugs as effective treatments for MCC, securing FDA approval for their use in the disease. These advances have reshaped national standards of care and transformed the prospects of patients with metastatic MCC: where once only 5% of patients had a lasting response to standard chemotherapy — formerly the only available option — now 50% see sustained benefits from immunotherapy.
The Nghiem Lab’s next goal is even more ambitious: a 75% response rate. To get there, they’re testing combinations of existing therapies, developing new drugs and studying strategies to prevent recurrence after treatment. Some current clinical trials are exploring the role of immunotherapy before and after surgery, while another is focused on advancing options for patients whose cancer returns after treatment.
Private support also empowers researchers to pursue early-stage projects, exploring novel ideas and gathering proof-of-concept data that can unlock larger grants. For example, philanthropy helped kickstart the team’s validation of a circulating tumor DNA test, a non-invasive blood test that provides patients and clinicians with critical real-time insight into treatment progress. Donations also partially funded the creation of a risk calculator, a tool developed by the Nghiem Lab to help tailor care to each patient’s unique needs.
“Philanthropy allows us to tackle more things at once,” said Nghiem. “Frankly, we have more good ideas than financial capacity to carry them out. Philanthropy makes more projects possible.”
Beyond immediate scientific advances, private gifts also sustain progress by training and equipping the next generation of clinicians and researchers. Clinical research fellows assist MCC patients with specific concerns while gaining critical expertise in MCC care, and a cadre of undergraduate students supported by philanthropy maintain the largest and most comprehensive MCC database in the world, ensuring a foundation of knowledge to fuel future findings.
A community in action
Hundreds of gifts come together to make a meaningful difference, and so do the individuals themselves. The annual Merkel CELLebration Dinner, hosted by the Nghiem Lab, is a time where patients, families and supporters join researchers to reflect on progress and envision what’s next for MCC research and care. Guests tour the lab space and hear updates from team members. Personal stories fill the room, weaving a tapestry of shared purpose.
