Merkel Cell Carcinoma

general

A rare aggressive neuroendocrine carcinoma that usually arises from the skin. Rarely, it arises from extracutaneous sites, including the oral cavity, salivary glands, breast, vulva, and vaginal wall. The tumor is composed of small round cells with scanty cytoplasm. Merkel cell polyomavirus is implicated in the majority of cases.

Centers

211

Active Trials

$2.6B

Cancer Funding

Specific Cancer Types(5)

Name	Centers	Active Trials
Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma	39	59
Refractory Merkel Cell Carcinoma	31	41
Unresectable Merkel Cell Carcinoma	25	37
Recurrent Merkel Cell Carcinoma	6	—
Cutaneous Merkel Cell Carcinoma	1	—

Top Centers for Merkel Cell Carcinoma(61)

Ranked by research excellence score (trials · grants · publications). Methodology →

#	Center	Research Tier	Active Trials	Cancer Funding	Score
1	Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteBoston, MA NCI Comprehensive High-Volume Research Center	High-Volume Research Center	11	$14M	89.3
2	Moffitt Cancer CenterTampa, FL NCI Comprehensive High-Volume Research Center	High-Volume Research Center	11	—	70.0
3	University of Colorado Cancer CenterAurora, CO NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	9	—	67.8
4	Boston University Cancer CenterBoston, MA Active Research Program	Active Research Program	10	—	67.8
5	Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew York, NY NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	3	—	65.2
6	The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	4	—	65.2
7	The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research InstituteColumbus, OH NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	3	—	65.2
8	Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer CenterMiami, FL NCI Clinical Active Research Program	Active Research Program	9	—	65.2
9	UPMC Hillman Cancer CenterPittsburgh, PA NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	1	$5M	63.1
10	The University of Arizona Cancer CenterTucson, AZ NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	2	$2M	61.7
11	Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	7	$416K	61.1
12	Fred Hutch Cancer CenterSeattle, WA NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	4	$125K	60.4
13	UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer CenterSan Francisco, CA NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	2	—	59.2
14	Duke Cancer InstituteDurham, NC NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	3	—	59.2
15	USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer CenterLos Angeles, CA NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	8	—	59.2
16	Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CenterBuffalo, NY NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	3	—	59.2
17	University of Virginia Cancer CenterCharlottesville, VA NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	6	—	59.2
18	Cleveland Clinic Cancer CenterCleveland, OH Active Research Program	Active Research Program	3	—	59.2
19	Dartmouth Cancer CenterLebanon, NH NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	3	—	59.2
20	University of Illinois Cancer CenterChicago, IL Active Research Program	Active Research Program	11	—	59.2
21	Cancer Center at IllinoisUrbana, IL Active Research Program	Active Research Program	9	—	59.2
22	Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, FloridaJacksonville, FL Active Research Program	Active Research Program	5	—	59.2
23	Abramson Cancer Center of the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	1	$11M	49.7
24	Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center of The Wistar InstitutePhiladelphia, PA NCI Basic_laboratory Active Research Program	Active Research Program	—	$11M	49.0
25	University of Michigan Rogel Cancer CenterAnn Arbor, MI NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	—	$4M	47.7
26	Penn State Cancer InstituteHershey, PA Active Research Program	Active Research Program	—	$72K	45.0
27	Siteman Cancer CenterSt. Louis, MO NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	8	—	44.9
28	UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterChapel Hill, NC NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	2	—	44.9
29	Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer CenterRochester, MN NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	2	—	44.9
30	Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	2	—	44.9
31	The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer CenterChicago, IL NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	5	—	44.9
32	Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone HealthNew York, NY NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	5	—	44.9
33	Winship Cancer InstituteAtlanta, GA NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	6	—	44.9
34	Masonic Cancer CenterMinneapolis, MN NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	1	—	44.9
35	University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer CenterMadison, WI NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	1	—	44.9
36	UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer CenterSacramento, CA NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	2	—	44.9
37	Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer CenterMilwaukee, WI Active Research Program	Active Research Program	1	—	44.9
38	VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer CenterRichmond, VA NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	5	—	44.9
39	Holden Comprehensive Cancer CenterIowa City, IA NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	1	—	44.9
40	Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer CenterOmaha, NE NCI Clinical Active Research Program	Active Research Program	3	—	44.9
41	Rutgers Cancer InstituteNew Brunswick, NJ NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	2	—	44.9
42	Karmanos Cancer InstituteDetroit, MI NCI Comprehensive Active Research Program	Active Research Program	1	—	44.9
43	University of Cincinnati Cancer CenterCincinnati, OH Active Research Program	Active Research Program	2	—	44.9
44	Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, ArizonaScottsdale, AZ Active Research Program	Active Research Program	2	—	44.9
45	BC CancerVancouver, BC Active Research Program	Active Research Program	1	—	44.9
46	Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer CenterNashville, TN NCI Comprehensive		—	—	30.2
47	UC San Diego Moores Cancer CenterLa Jolla, CA NCI Comprehensive		5	—	30.2
48	City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer CenterDuarte, CA NCI Comprehensive		—	—	30.2
49	Stephenson Cancer CenterOklahoma City, OK NCI Clinical		—	—	30.2
50	Fox Chase Cancer CenterPhiladelphia, PA NCI Comprehensive		—	—	30.2
51	Tampa General Hospital Cancer InstituteTampa, FL		3	—	30.2
52	Princess Margaret Cancer CentreToronto, ON		—	—	30.2
53	Stanford Cancer InstitutePalo Alto, CA NCI Comprehensive		3	$655M	—
54	Yale Cancer Center Yale School of MedicineNew Haven, CT NCI Comprehensive		4	$517M	—
55	Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center UT Southwestern Medical CenterDallas, TX NCI Comprehensive		3	$438M	—
56	Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT NCI Comprehensive		3	$276M	—
57	Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer CenterIndianapolis, IN NCI Comprehensive		1	$216M	—
58	UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer CenterOrange, CA NCI Comprehensive		3	$185M	—
59	The University of Kansas Cancer CenterKansas City, KS NCI Comprehensive		4	$134M	—
60	UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer InstituteLittle Rock, AR		1	$106M	—
61	Louisiana Cancer Research CenterNew Orleans, LA		1	—	—

Research tier badges reflect trial volume, NIH grant funding, and publication impact — not clinical outcomes or patient satisfaction. Learn about our methodology →