How I treat mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome

Romidepsin for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are relatively rare lymphomas and the most common form is mycosis fungoides. Its rare leukemic variant is Sezary syndrome. Advanced-stage disease is typically treated with bexarotene (a retinoid), IFN-α or conventional chemotherapeutic agents, but relapses are inevitable. Histone deacetylase inhibitors that modify the epigenome are an attractive addition to the armamentarium. Based on two large Phase II studies, the US FDA approved intravenous romidepsin for patients with relapsed/refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Romidepsin provides a subset of patients with an opportunity for prolonged clinical responses with a tolerable side-effect profile.

Testicular manifestation of a transformed mycosis fungoides

Testicular neoplasms occur in more than 90% of cases, due to primary testicular germ cell tumors. Other entities are non germ cell tumors of the testis, testicular manifestation of lymphomas or metastases. International and interdisciplinary co-operation has led to the development of urological guidelines and to good therapeutic success for testicular neoplasms. The gold standard for treatment of a testicular neoplasm is the radical orchiectomy. However, for individual cases with suspected lymphoma, a treatment decision differing from the guidelines may be reasonable. We present the case of a 38-year-old man with testicular manifestation of a transformed mycosis fungoides, which is the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in sub-Saharan Africa

The incidence and economic burden of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is increasing, and innovative strategies are needed to improve prevention and care in this population. This article uses a case of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in Uganda to propose guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease in resource-limited settings. These guidelines were developed from the consensus opinion of specialists at the Uganda Cancer Institute and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center as part of an established collaboration. Areas for future investigation that can improve the care of patients in this region are identified.

Bexarotene in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: third retrospective study of long-term cohort and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Bexarotene was approved for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in 1999. Apart from the two first clinical trials published ten years ago, very few data were published on the long-term use of bexarotene in CTCL patients.

OBJECTIVES

We performed a retrospective review of CTCL patients treated with bexarotene at a single skin Cancer department between 2002 and 2012. We aimed to determine retrospectively the long-term tolerability and outcome of bexarotene in a cohort of CTCL patients and to compare these results with data from the literature.

RESULTS

Thirty-two patients were included (18 men/14 women); 20 patients had a mycosis fungoïdes and 12 a Sézary syndrome. The longest bexarotene treatment duration observed was 65.2 months and 10 patients were treated for more than 24 months. A clinical response was reported in 60% of all patients and in 75% of patients with Sézary syndrome. Most common drug-related adverse events were hypothyroidism (94%), hypertriglyceridemia (78%) and hypercholesterolemia (44%). Most events (84%) were mild to moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

This study with a very long observation time confirms that bexarotene is well tolerated by CTCL patients during long-term use. It is effective in early and advanced stages of CTCL.

Institutional experience with a rotational total skin electron irradiation (RTSEI) technique-A three decade review (1981-2012)

Total skin electron irradiation (TSEI) for patients with cutaneous lymphomas is technically challenging, and numerous approaches have been developed to overcome the many field matching problems associated with such a large and complex treatment volume. Since 1981 we have delivered TSEI using a rotational total skin electron irradiation (RTSEI) technique in conjunction with patch, treat and boost fields in order to provide complete skin and dose coverage. Initially we used a 6 MeV electron beam at an extended source-skin distance (SSD) on a modified linear accelerator. More recently we began using a high dose rate electron mode on a commercially available linear accelerator. The RTSEI technique allows the delivery of a seamless surface dose to the majority of the patient's skin surface in a single treatment. In this review paper we present our three-decade experience with the technical development, dosimetry, treatment delivery and clinical outcomes of our RTSEI technique.

Emerging treatment options for early mycosis fungoides

Mycosis fungoides is a candidate for skin-directed therapies in its initial stages. In recent years, therapeutic options outside of the normal treatment recommendations such as topical imiquimod, topical tazarotene, topical methotrexate, excimer light sources, and photodynamic therapy have been published with variable results. These alternatives have been useful in cases of localized mycosis fungoides that do not respond to routine treatments; nevertheless, more studies on these methods are still needed. This article summarizes the literature and data that are known so far about these treatments.

Prospective International Multicenter Phase II Trial of Intravenous Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin Monochemotherapy in Patients With Stage IIB, IVA, or IVB Advanced Mycosis Fungoides: Final Results From EORTC 21012

Purpose

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. There is a need for multicenter trials involving defined patient populations using rigorous assessment criteria. We have investigated pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in a clearly defined patient population with advanced MF.

Patients and Methods

Eligible patients had stage IIB, IVA, or IVB MF, refractory or recurrent after at least two previous systemic therapies. Patients were registered to receive a maximum of six cycles of PLD 20 mg/m2on days 1 and 15, every 28 days (one cycle). The primary end point was response rate (RR).

Results

Nine centers recruited 49 eligible patients. The median number of chemotherapy cycles received was five. There were no grade 3 to 4 hematologic toxicities. Grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic/nonbiochemical toxicities included cardiac symptom (2%), allergy/hypersensitivity (2%), constitutional symptom (4%), hand and foot reaction (2%), other dermatologic toxicity (6%), other GI toxicity (4%), infection (4%), pulmonary embolism (2%), and cardiac ischemia (2%). Of 49 patients, 20 (40.8%) were responders (complete clinical response [CCR] or partial response [PR] as overall response): three (6.1%) experienced CCRs, and 17 (34.7%) experienced PRs. A 50% or greater reduction of cutaneous manifestations was observed in 26 (60.5%) of 43 assessable patients. Two early deaths were reported, resulting from related cardiovascular toxicity and disease progression. The lower limit of the one-sided 90% CI for RR was 31.2%. Median time to progression and median duration of response were 7.4 and 6 months, respectively.

Conclusion

PLD has an acceptable safety profile in patients with advanced MF. The efficacy of PLD seems promising.

Emerging Treatment Options for Advanced-Stage Mycosis Fungoides

A 72-year-old man with a 3-year history of hypersensitivity skin reaction managed with topical steroids and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation develops skin tumors chiefly involving his face. After a diagnosis of stage IIB mycosis fungoides (MF), he begins oral low-dose weekly methotrexate with partial response lasting 5 months. Subsequently, he receives six cycles of weekly gemcitabine and achieves a partial response with resolution of skin tumors but persistence of scattered patches and plaques ( Fig 1 ). He begins daily bexarotene and interferon alfa (IFN-α) three times per week while continuing topical steroids. When scattered patches and plaques progress 7 months later, UVB radiation is added to his regimen. His disease remains well controlled until 17 months later, when he develops pneumonia complicated by pericarditis, requiring discontinuation of IFN-α. Over the next year, he continues bexarotene maintenance therapy and topical steroids but requires localized radiation therapy to isolated patch and tumor lesions. When patch lesions become more extensive, he receives total-skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT). Nearly 4 years after diagnosis of stage IIB MF and 5 months after completion of TSEBT, two tumor lesions redevelop on his face and scalp. The scalp tumor has overlying epidermal change with ulceration; the face tumor is subdermal with minimal overlying epidermal change and obstructs the right external auditory meatus ( Fig 1 D). You consider management options.

Novel therapeutic agents for cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary Syndrome (SS) represent the most common subtypes of primary Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Patients with advanced MF and SS have a poor prognosis leading to an interest in the development of new therapies with targeted mechanisms of action and acceptable safety profiles. In this review we focus on such novel strategies that have changed the treatment paradigm of this rare malignancy.

Romidepsin for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) are relatively rare lymphomas with an annual incidence of approximately 0.2 to 0.8/100,000 and comprise a variety of clinical entities; mycosis fungoides or its leukemic variant Sezary syndrome account for the majority of cases. Advanced-stage disease is typically treated with bexarotene (a retinoid), interferon, or conventional chemotherapeutic agents, but relapses are inevitable. Histone deacetylase inhibitors, which modify the epigenome, are an attractive addition to the armamentarium. On the basis of 2 large phase II studies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved intravenous romidepsin for patients with relapsed and/or refractory CTCL. Romidepsin provides a subset of patients with an opportunity for prolonged clinical responses with a tolerable side effect profile.

Treatment algorithms for mature T-cell and natural killer-cell neoplasms

Mature T-cell and natural killer (NK)-cell lymphomas are rare neoplasms, differing geographically in frequencies. T-cell lymphomas are more common in Asia than in western countries, and NK-cell lymphomas occur almost exclusively in Asia and South America. The rarity of these lymphomas means that treatment algorithms of T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas have not been well established. Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, are the more commonly encountered T-cell lymphomas. Treatment with anthracycline-based regimens designed for aggressive B-cell lymphomas gives unsatisfactory results. Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas may remain indolent, but outcome is poor for advanced diseases. Novel therapies, including monoclonal antibodies, nucleoside analogs, histone deacetylase inhibitors and small molecules targeting cellular signaling pathways, are being explored alone or in combination with chemotherapy. High-dose chemotherapy with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is recommended for high-risk cases. NK-cell lymphomas exhibit the multidrug resistance phenotype due to P-glycoprotein expression, so that anthracycline-based regimens are ineffective. Non-multidrug resistance-dependent regimens and L-asparaginase-based protocols have been shown to be highly active. Autologous HSCT is not routinely performed. The role of allogeneic HSCT is being examined.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: 2011 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are a heterogenous group of T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders involving the skin, the majority of which may be classified as Mycosis fungoides (MF) or Sézary syndrome (SS).

DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis of MF or SS requires the integration of clinical and histopathologic data.

RISK-ADAPTED THERAPY

Tumor, node, metastasis, and blood (TNMB) staging remains the most important prognostic factor in MF/SS and forms the basis for a "risk-adapted," multidisciplinary approach to treatment. For patients with disease limited to the skin, expectant management or skin-directed therapies is preferred, as both disease-specific and overall survival for these patients is favorable. In contrast, patients with advanced-stage disease with significant nodal, visceral, or blood involvement are generally approached with biologic-response modifiers, denileukin diftitox, and histone deacetylase inhibitors before escalating therapy to include systemic, single-agent chemotherapy. Multiagent chemotherapy may be used for those patients with extensive visceral involvement requiring rapid disease control. In highly-selected patients with disease refractory to standard treatments, allogeneic stem-cell transplantation may be considered.

MicroRNA profiling reveals that miR-21, miR486 and miR-214 are upregulated and involved in cell survival in Sézary syndrome

Sézary syndrome (SS) is an incurable leukemic variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and its pathogenesis is still unknown. Diagnosis/prognosis may strongly ameliorate the management of SS individuals. Here, we profiled the expression of 470 microRNAs (miRNAs) in a cohort of 22 SS patients, and we identified 45 miRNAs differentially expressed between SS and controls. Using predictive analysis, a list of 19 miRNAs, including miR-21, miR-214, miR-486, miR-18a, miR-342, miR-31 and let-7 members were also found. Moreover, we defined a signature of 14 miRNAs including again miR-21, potentially able to discriminate patients with unfavorable and favorable outcome. We validated our data for miR-21, miR-214 and miR-486 by qRT-PCR, including an additional set of array-independent SS cases. In addition, we also provide an in vitro evidence for a contribution of miR-214, miR-486 and miR-21 to apoptotic resistance of CTCL cell line.

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) has multiple functions throughout mitosis. Plk1 levels are high in a number of cancers and haematological malignancies while being low in most differentiated tissues.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the immunoreactivity of Plk1 in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) as a potential therapeutic target, to differentiate Plk1 levels among lesion types and to compare the detection level of Plk1 in fresh frozen (f) vs. paraffin-embedded (p) tissue.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical staining of CTCL skin lesions with anti-Plk1 antibody was performed in a total of 65 biopsies from 49 patients with CTCL. Both f and p tissue was available for comparison in 46 biopsies.

RESULTS

Tumour-stage CTCL lesions displayed significantly more Plk1 (mean f 7·7%, p 8·8%) than patch (mean f 0·7%, p 2·0%) and plaque-stage lesions (mean f 1·1%, p 2·0%) (P < 0·05). Plk1 ranged from 0% to 18% in f and 0% to 24% in p samples. p tissue revealed a higher mean Plk1 detection rate of 4·4% compared with 2·9% in f tissue with no statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that in CTCL, Plk1 is increased mainly in advanced lesions. Several Plk1 inhibitors have already shown promising results in preclinical and clinical phase I and II trials for different types of cancers with low adverse effects. Immunohistochemical detection of high Plk1 levels in patients with CTCL could help select individuals who might benefit from treatment with small molecule Plk1 inhibitors.

Genetic alterations in Sezary syndrome

Sezary syndrome (SS) is a rare form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma characterized by erythroderma and the presence of Sezary cells in the skin, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood. Over the past few decades, cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic findings have revealed many genetic alterations in patients with SS. The most frequent genetic lesions include monosomy 10, losses of 10q and 17p, gains of 8q24 and 17q, and diverse structural alterations involving these regions. Expression patterns in regions of genomic imbalance show that a large number of genes in SS are deregulated, and this might have a causative role in oncogenesis. Overall, chromosomal instability is characteristic of this lymphoma and related to a poor prognosis, but no specific abnormalities that may be directly involved in development of the disease have yet been found.

Emerging role of the histone deacetylase inhibitor romidepsin in hematologic malignancies

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD

Histone acetylation plays a crucial role in chromatin modification and the regulation of gene expression. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are a novel class of antitumor agents with pleiotropic effects; they are under active clinical investigation. The HDACi romidepsin is being evaluated in a variety of tumors and was recently approved for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL).

AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW

This review focuses on the findings from early Phase trials involving romidepsin, and the Phase II trial results that led to the approval of romidepsin in CTCL.

WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN

Mechanisms of action of HDACi, including romidepsin, are described in this review and the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of romidepsin are summarized. The efficacy and safety profile of romidepsin in clinical trials in T-cell lymphoma is reviewed, and emerging data on single-agent and combination strategies in myeloid and B-lymphoid malignancies is outlined.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

Romidepsin has significant activity and an acceptable safety profile in CTCL and peripheral T-cell lymphomas. Its use in rationally designed combination approaches is under active investigation in B-lymphoid malignancies.

Guidelines on the use of therapeutic apheresis in clinical practice--evidence-based approach from the Apheresis Applications Committee of the American Society for Apheresis

The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) Apheresis Applications Committee is charged with a review and categorization of indications for therapeutic apheresis. Beginning with the 2007 ASFA Special Issue (fourth edition), the subcommittee has incorporated systematic review and evidence-based approach in the grading and categorization of indications. This Fifth ASFA Special Issue has further improved the process of using evidence-based medicine in the recommendations by refining the category definitions and by adding a grade of recommendation based on widely accepted GRADE system. The concept of a fact sheet was introduced in the Fourth edition and is only slightly modified in this current edition. The fact sheet succinctly summarizes the evidence for the use of therapeutic apheresis. The article consists of 59 fact sheets devoted to each disease entity currently categorized by the ASFA as category I through III. Category IV indications are also listed.