Brain tumor
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive (grade IV) and most common form of a malignant brain tumor. Even when aggressive multimodality therapy consisting of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical excision is used, median survival is only 12–17 months. Standard therapy for glioblastoma multiforme consists of maximal surgical resection of the tumor, followed by radiotherapy between two and four weeks after the surgical procedure to remove the cancer, then by chemotherapy, such as temozolomide. Most patients with glioblastoma take a corticosteroid, typically dexamethasone, during their illness to relieve symptoms. Experimental treatments include targeted therapy, gamma knife radiosurgery, boron neutron capture therapy and gene therapy.
Merkel-cell carcinoma
Overall, the 5-year survival rate for Merkel cell carcinoma is around 60%. It varies depending on the stages of the cancer. In general, a higher cancer stage correlates with a lower survival rate. For example, National Cancer Data Base has survival rates collected from nearly 3000 MCC patients from year 1996-2000 with 5-year survival rates listed as follows:
Stage IA: 80%. Stage IB: 60%.
Stage IIA: 60%. Stage IIB: 50%. Stage IIC: 50%.
Stage IIIA: 45%. Stage IIIB: 25%.
Stage IV: 20%.
5 yr survival may be 51% among patients with localized disease, 35% for those with nodal disease, and 14% with metastases to a distant site.