Allogeneic stem-cell transplantation in patients with cutaneous lymphoma: updated results from a single institution

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) and its common variants mycosis fungoides (MF) and leukemic Sézary syndrome (SS) are rare extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Patients who present with advanced disease and large-cell transformation (LCT) are incurable with standard treatments. In this article, we report the largest single-center experience with allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT) for advanced CTCL.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a prospective case series of 47 CTCL patients who underwent allogeneic SCT after failure of standard therapy between July 2001 and September 2013. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) curves. The method of Fine and Gray was used to fit regression models to the same covariates for these cumulative incidence data.

RESULTS

The Kaplan-Meier estimates of OS and PFS at 4 years were 51% and 26%, respectively. There was no statistical difference in the OS in patients who had MF alone, SS, MF with LCT, or SS with LCT. PFS at 4 years was superior in patients who had SS versus those who did not (52.4% versus 9.9%; P = 0.02). The cumulative incidences of grade 2-4 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD were 40% and 28%, respectively. The cumulative nonrelapse mortality rate was 16.7% at 2 years.

CONCLUSION

Allogeneic SCT may result in long-term remissions in a subset of patients with advanced CTCL. Although post-SCT relapse rates are high, many patients respond to immunomodulation and achieve durable remissions.

CLINICALTRIALSGOV

NCT00506129.

Final results of a multicenter phase II study of the purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) inhibitor forodesine in patients with advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) (Mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome)

BACKGROUND

Forodesine is a potent inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) that leads to intracellular accumulation of deoxyguanosine triphosphate (dGTP) in T and B cells, resulting in apoptosis. Forodesine has demonstrated impressive antitumor activity in early phase clinical trials in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this phase II study, patients with CTCL who had already failed three or more systemic therapies were recruited. We investigated the response rate, safety and tolerability of oral forodesine treatment in subjects with cutaneous manifestations of CTCL, stages IB, IIA, IIB, III and IVA. The safety population encompassing all stages was used for analysis of accountability, demographics and safety. The efficacy population differed from the safety population by exclusion of stage IB and IIA patients.

RESULTS

All 144 patients had performance status 0-2. The median duration of CTCL from diagnosis was 53 months (5-516 months). The median number of pretreatments was 4 (range: 3-15). No complete remissions were observed. In the efficacy group of patients, 11% achieved partial remission and 50% had stable disease. The median time to response was 56 days and the median duration of response was 191 days. A total of 96% of all treated patients reported one or more adverse events (AEs) and 33% reported a serious AE. The majority of AEs were classified as mild or moderate in severity. The most commonly reported AEs (>10%) were peripheral edema, fatigue, insomnia, pruritus, diarrhea, headache and nausea. Overall eight patients died during the study: five due to sepsis and infections, one due to a second malignancy (esophageal cancer), one due to disease progression and one due to liver failure.

CONCLUSION

Oral forodesine at a dose of 200 mg daily is feasible and shows partial efficacy in this highly selected CTCL population and some durable responses.

Final results of phase II trial of doxorubicin HCl liposome injection followed by bexarotene in advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

High response rates for doxorubicin HCl liposome injection (DLI) in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) have been reported with vague criteria until recently. Approximately 50% of CTCL patients respond to bexarotene (Bex).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A phase II trial was carried out to clarify the true overall response rate (ORR) for DLI and to assess the role of sequential Bex. Patients were treated with DLI 20 mg/m(2) i.v. every 2 weeks for 16 weeks (8 doses) followed by 16 weeks with Bex 300 mg/m(2) orally. Response assessments were carried out after 16 (DLI) and 32 weeks (Bex). Skin responses were measured by the modified Severity-Weighted Assessment Tool (mSWAT) and the Composite Assessment of Index Lesion Severity (CA).

RESULTS

Thirty-seven patients were treated: stage IV (22, 8 with Sézary syndrome), IIB (10), earlier stage refractory to skin-directed therapies or radiation therapy (5). For 34 assessable patients: ORR 14/34 [41%: partial response (PR) 12, clinical complete response (CCR) 2]. Maximum responses were all seen after 16 weeks DLI. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5 months. There were 22 deaths: 21 of disease and 1 of heart failure. Twenty-seven grade 3 and 5 grade 4 toxic events were observed.

CONCLUSION(S)

With strict criteria, DLI ORR is among the highest reported for single agents in CTCL. Sequential Bex did not increase the response rate or duration.

Dendritic cells and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells that help orchestrate the innate and adaptive immune systems to induce tolerance and immunity. They are diversified in their phenotypes, stages of maturation, degrees of activation, and functions. Several subtypes of DCs exist among human lymphoid tissues, non-lymphoid tissues, and in peripheral blood. In the skin, three types of DCs are described: Langerhans cells (LCs), dermal dendritic cells (DDCs), and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). In the peripheral blood, myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells are well described. Dysfunctional DCs are found in many autoimmune disorders, allergies, and cancers. In this paper, we focus on DCs as related to cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCLs). Abnormal DC number and defective DC function are found in the blood of patients with advanced stage Sézary syndrome (SS), a leukemic variant of CTCLs. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), an effective therapy for erythrodermic CTCLs, is thought to work by inducing apoptosis of tumor cells and monocytes-derived DCs. DC vaccination has been carried out successfully in some patients with CTCLs when combined with immune modifiers like toll like receptor agonists, which may enhance the function of DCs. However, DCs may perform a dual role in the pathogenesis of CTCLs. Immature DCs (langerhans cells) could promote the survival of malignant T cells. Further understanding of DCs and their role in CTCLs can help us to uncover the pathogenesis of this disease and to further explore the therapeutic uses of DCs.

Long-term treatment of CTCL with the oral PNP inhibitor, forodesine

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Background: Forodesine is a potent inhibitor of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) that leads to T-cell selective intracellular accumulation of dGTP, resulting in apoptosis. Methods: An open-label dose escalation study of oral forodesine (40–320 mg/m2 daily) for 4 wks with extended therapy was performed to determine the maximum tolerated and/or optimal biologic dose (OBD). Additional subjects were accrued at an OBD (80 mg/m2) to further assess safety and clinical efficacy. Subjects with refractory CTCL, stages IB-IV were eligible. The primary efficacy endpoint (objective response rate [ORR]) was defined as ≥ 50% improvement by a severity-weighted assessment tool (mSWAT). Results: The overall intent to treat response rate was 17 of 64 (27%) subjects or 14 of 36 (39%) at the OBD. As of October 2008, nine of 64 subjects (14%) have received forodesine treatment for >12 months. This cohort of 9 subjects is further examined. Six discontinued treatment (median time on treatment 440 days): 4 for progressive disease, 1 withdrew consent, and 1 due to an adverse event (Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma). Three are continuing on therapy for 416, 710, and 863 days. Median age was 68 years (range 42, 81), and all but one was ≥ stage III. They had received a median of 3 prior systemic therapies including 8 of 9 with prior bexarotene. Five of 9 subjects had a response (2 with complete response, 3 with partial response, and 4 with stable disease). Related AEs were experienced by 7 of 9 subjects. The most frequent were nausea (44%), fatigue, peripheral edema, dyspnea, and urinary casts (all 22%). Grade 3 or higher related AEs were experienced by 2 of 9 subjects (Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma as previously mentioned and peripheral edema). There were no hematologic or infection AEs related to forodesine. Grade 3 lymphopenia and CD4 count < 200 were noted in 8 of 9 and 4 of 9 subjects respectively. The risk of any infection AE regardless of cause in these 9 subjects was 15 per 100 person-months of forodesine exposure compared to 59 in all other subjects (n=55). Conclusions: Forodesine has an acceptable safety profile and efficacy in these CTCL subjects treated for 12 months or longer.

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Relationship between efficacy of denileukin diftitox (Dd) and antibody development in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL): An analysis of two phase III studies

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Background: Dd is a novel IL-2 receptor-targeted recombinant fusion protein approved for persistent/recurrent CTCL expressing CD25. The effect of antibody titers on efficacy in CTCL was assessed in 2 phase III studies (11 & 14). Methods: Dd doses were 9 or 18 mcg/kg daily for 5 days, repeating every 21 days, up to 8 courses. Serum samples were collected prior to Dd infusion on day 1 of courses 1, 3, 5, and 7. Immune response to Dd was assessed using 2 enzyme-linked immunoassays: 1 for anti-IL-2 antibody (Ab) and the other for anti-Dd Ab. Immunogenicity data reflect percentage of subjects whose test results were considered positive for antibody to the intact Dd fusion protein. Results: In Study 11, 66% of subjects tested positive for anti-Dd Ab at baseline, possibly due to prior exposure to diphtheria toxin or its vaccine. In both studies, and for both doses, rapid increases in Ab titers were observed in nearly 100% of subjects from courses 1 to 3 (∼650-fold, 11; >=625-fold, 14). After 3 treatment courses, mean Ab levels stabilized and did not change appreciably with time. Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters (Cmax and AUC) decreased substantially during the same period, but no relationship between Ab formation and clearance was identified. Low Spearman Correlation coefficient values indicated lack of a significant association (i) between the pre-treatment or treatment-related Ab levels and (ii) between PK changes for subjects who responded and subjects who did not respond. Of subjects positive for Ab at baseline, 43% (27/63) and 38% (13/34) responded to treatment, as compared to 50% (16/32) and 54% (7/13) for subjects who had no detectable Ab at baseline in Studies 11 and 14 respectively. There appeared to be higher incidences of response in subjects with lower initial Ab titers. Conclusions: In the studies analyzed, antibody formation in response to Dd exposure did not appear to compromise efficacy for treatment of CTCL.

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Prevalence and treatment of Staphylococcus aureus colonization in patients with mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS), variants of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, may arise from antigen-driven clonal expansion and accumulation of helper-memory T cells. Superantigens from Staphylococcus aureus can stimulate T cells.

OBJECTIVES

(i) To determine the prevalence of S. aureus carriage in nares and skin in patients with MF/SS compared with historical rates in other conditions. (ii) To determine whether eradication of S. aureus carriage is associated with clinical improvement. Methods Skin and nares cultures were performed prospectively. Patients with positive nares and skin cultures were treated with oral antibiotics and intranasal mupirocin 2% and samples were taken for reculturing at 3 days, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. An exact binomial test was used to compare the carriage rates among different groups.

RESULTS

Among 106 patients with MF/SS, 67 (63%) had skin colonization and 57 (54%) had nasal colonization. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 44 patients, 33 (31%) each from skin and nares. Colonization was highest in erythrodermic SS (48%), similar to atopic dermatitis (64%), and lowest in MF without erythroderma (26%), psoriasis (21%), and the general population (10%). Oral and topical antibiotics eradicated S. aureus colonization in nares in 28 of 33 (85%) patients and in MF skin lesions in 30 of 33 (91%) patients at 4-8 weeks, with rapid clinical improvement seen in 58% of S. aureus-colonized patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Staphylococcal carriage in nares and skin lesions of patients with MF is similar to that in atopic dermatitis. Eradication of staphylococci from the skin is possible with treatment and was associated with clinical improvement.