A retrospective comparative outcome analysis following systemic therapy in Mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome

Chart review study of real-world clinical outcomes in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma treated with extracorporeal photopheresis in the US in 2017-2019

BACKGROUND

Response rates of approved systemic therapies for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) hover near 30%, suggesting unmet need. This study describes real-world treatment patterns and response rates of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) in CTCL patients.

METHODS

A chart review was conducted in the United States of adults with CTCL who initiated ECP between January 1, 2017, and February 28, 2019, and received at least three months of ECP treatment as monotherapy or concomitant therapy. Clinical outcomes were collected quarterly for up to 18 months.

RESULTS

The 52 patients were predominantly Caucasian. Half were male; median age was 69 years. Most patients had Sézary syndrome (50%) or mycosis fungoides (36.5%). Nearly 40% of patients had stage IV disease; 33% had lymph node involvement. Nineteen patients (36.5%) achieved response (>50% reduction in BSA affected); median time to response was 6.5 months. The percentage of patients rated as at least minimally improved was 59.5% at 6 months (N = 22), 75.0% at 9 months (N = 24), and 60.0% at 12 months (N = 15) after ECP initiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the ECP treated population in this study being older and having more advanced-stage disease than recent trials, response rates were comparable. These real-world findings support ECP as an effective treatment option for CTCL patients.

A retrospective study of prognostic factors and treatment outcome in advanced-stage Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome

Background: Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary Syndrome (SS) comprise over half of all Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma diagnoses. Current risk stratification is largely based on TNMB staging, few research investigated the prognostic value of clinical exams. Current systemic therapy for advanced disease includes immunomodulatory drugs, chemotherapy, and HADC inhibitors. Few clinical trials or retrospective research compared the efficacy of different drugs.Method: Here, we performed a retrospective analysis of prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of 92 patients diagnosed with MF/SS at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2013-2023.Results: Cox regression analysis identified that age ≥ 50 years, WBC ≥ 8 × 109/L, serum LDH ≥ 250U/L, β2-MG ≥ 4.50 mg/L, and stage IV were associated with reduced overall survival, age ≥ 50 years, serum LDH ≥ 250U/L and stage IV were associated with reduced progression free survival. Kaplan-Meier analysis established that immunomodulatory therapy was associated with longer progression free survival.Conclusion: These results suggested new factors in predicting prognosis and selecting appropriate treatments in patients with advanced MF/SS.

Mortalität, prognostische Parameter und Behandlungsstrategien bei Mycosis fungoides

Hintergrund und Ziele

Mycosis fungoides (MF), das häufigste primär kutane T‐ Zell‐Lymphom, ist durch einen variablen klinischen Verlauf charakterisiert. Dieser ist entweder indolent oder infaust bei Progression mit extrakutaner Beteiligung. Das Fehlen von Prognosemodellen bei überwiegend palliativen Therapiemodalitäten erschweren das Patientenmanagement. Ziel dieser Studie war es, Überlebensraten, Treffsicherheit von verfügbaren Prognosemodellen und den Therapieerfolg bei MF‐Patienten zu evaluieren.

Patienten und Methodik

Hundertvierzig MF‐Patienten wurden retrospektiv untersucht. Prognose, Krankheitsprogression beziehungsweise Überlebensraten wurden anhand univariater Cox‐ Regressionsmodellen und Kaplan‐Meier‐ Schätzungen analysiert.

Ergebnisse

Hauttumoren waren im Vergleich zu Erythrodermie mit einem kürzeren progressionsfreien Überleben und Gesamtüberleben sowie einem 3,48‐fach erhöhtem Risiko für Krankheitsprogression verbunden. Der Cutaneous Lymphoma International Prognostic Index identifizierte Risikopatienten lediglich im frühen Krankheitsstadium. Zudem waren die Expression von Ki‐67 > 20%, CD30 > 10%, CD20+ und CD7– unabhängig vom Krankheitsstadium mit einem signifikant schlechteren Outcome verbunden. Eine langfristige Krankheitskontrolle wurde lediglich mit Interferon‐α als Monotherapie oder durch Kombination von Phototherapie mit Interferon‐α oder Retinoiden/Bexaroten erreicht.

Schlussfolgerungen

Unsere Daten unterstützen die Vorhersagekraft von etablierten Prognoseparametern und ‐modellen bei MF. Zusätzlich wurden neue Parameter, die mit einer schlechten Prognose assoziiert sind, identifiziert. Prospektive Studien, die Prognoseindikatoren in Bezug auf Krankheitsstadium und Therapie synergistisch evaluieren sind erforderlich, um die Patientenbetreuung zu verbessern.

Evaluation of mortality, prognostic parameters, and treatment efficacy in mycosis fungoides

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Mycosis fungoides (MF), the most common primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, is characterized by a variable clinical course, presenting either as indolent disease or showing fatal progression due to extracutaneous involvement. Importantly, the lack of prognostic models and predominantly palliative therapy settings hamper patient care. Here, we aimed to define survival rates, disease prediction accuracy, and treatment impact in MF.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Hundred-forty MF patients were assessed retrospectively. Prognosis and disease progression/survival were analyzed using univariate Cox proportional hazards regression model and Kaplan-Meier estimates.

RESULTS

Skin tumors were linked to shorter progression-free, overall survival and a 3.48 increased risk for disease progression when compared to erythroderma. The Cutaneous Lymphoma International Prognostic Index identified patients at risk in early-stage disease only. Moreover, expression of Ki-67 >20%, CD30 >10%, CD20+, and CD7- were associated with a significantly worse outcome independent of disease stage. Only single-agent interferon-α and phototherapy combined with interferon-α or retinoids/bexarotene achieved long-term disease control in MF.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support predictive validity of prognostic factors and models in MF and identified further potential parameters associated with poor survival. Prospective studies on prognostic indices across disease stages and treatment modalities are needed to predict and improve survival.

Time to next treatment in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia initiating first-line ibrutinib or acalabrutinib

Aim: To investigate real-world time to next treatment in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia initiating first-line (1L) ibrutinib or acalabrutinib. Materials & methods: US specialty pharmacy electronic medical records (21/11/2018-30/4/2022) were used; patients initiated 1L on/after 21/11/2019 (acalabrutinib approval). Results: Among 710 patients receiving ibrutinib, 5.9% initiated next treatment (mean time to initiation = 9.2 months); among 373 patients receiving acalabrutinib, 7.5% initiated next treatment (mean time to initiation = 5.9 months). Adjusting for baseline characteristics, acalabrutinib-treated patients were 89% more likely to initiate next treatment (hazard ratio = 1.89; p = 0.016). Conclusion: This study addresses a need for real-world comparative effectiveness between 1L ibrutinib and acalabrutinib and shows that next treatment (a clinically meaningful measure for real-world progression) occurred less frequently with 1L ibrutinib.

International study of treatment efficacy in SS shows superiority of combination therapy and heterogeneity of treatment strategies

Despite increasing availability of therapies, patients with Sezary syndrome (SS) commonly endure multi-line treatment journeys, mostly with partial responses of short duration. Measuring clinical benefit is challenging; time-to-next-treatment (TTNT) provides a robust, objective measurement of efficacy. This international observational study examines patterns of clinical care and therapeutic benefit as measured by TTNT. TTNT was calculated for monotherapies and combination therapies, with consideration to treatment line. 178 patients with SS (73% de novo, 27% secondary) were included, receiving 721 lines of systemic therapy, with median follow-up of 56.9 months. Across all lines, 58 different therapeutic regimens were prescribed (54 were systemic therapies) and classified into 17 treatment groups. The most common first-line treatments were extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP)-containing combination therapy (20%) and retinoid monotherapy (19%). Median TTNT for all first-line therapies was short (5.4 months). First-line, combination therapies had longer median TTNT than monotherapies, 10.0 vs 5.0 months (P = .004), respectively. Later delivery of combination therapies was associated with shorter clinical benefit, with median TTNT reduced to 6.2 and 2.2 months for mid-line (2nd-4th line) and late-line (≥5th line), respectively (P < .001). First-line ECP-containing treatments were associated with longer median TTNT than non-ECP-containing treatments, 9.0 vs 4.9 months (P = .007). For both ECP-monotherapy and ECP-containing combination therapy, significant reductions in TTNT were seen in later lines. These data suggest therapeutic benefit from first-line delivery of combination therapy for SS and favor early inclusion of ECP in the treatment algorithm for those who can access it.

Brentuximab-vedotin in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisolone for the treatment of aggressive CD30-positive cutaneous T-cell lymphomas

Aggressive CD30-positive cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CD30+CTCL) are associated with unfavorable prognosis. Anthracycline-based polychemotherapy (CHOP) and brentuximab-vedotin (BV) monotherapy are related to poor outcomes in case of extracutaneous involvement or rapidly-progressing disease. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of BV + CHP in aggressive CD30+CTCL. We included 7 patients treated with BV + CHP from April 2015 to January 2022: 4 had mycosis fungoides with large-cell transformation, 2 had primary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, and 1 harbored a primary cutaneous aggressive epidermotropic CD8-positive T-cell lymphoma. After a median [IQR] follow-up of 17.2 [13.2-21.0] months, 6/7 patients achieved an ORR lasting ≥4 months. The median [IQR] duration of response was 9.5 [5.9-11.1] months and the median [IQR] progression free survival was 14.9 [11.6-16.4] months. Four patients displayed progression with a median (range) time to next treatment of 15.8 (6.5-16.3) months. Two grade-3 adverse events were reported: febrile neutropenia and thromboembolic event. BV + CHP displayed substantial antitumor activity and favorable safety profile in 7 patients with aggressive CD30+CTCL.

Cutaneous Lymphoma and Antibody-Directed Therapies

The introduction of monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab to the treatment of cancer has greatly advanced the treatment scenario in onco-hematology. However, the response to these agents may be limited by insufficient efficacy or resistance. Antibody–drug conjugates are an attractive strategy to deliver payloads of toxicity or radiation with high selectivity toward malignant targets and limited unwanted effects. Primary cutaneous lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of disorders and a current area of unmet need in dermato-oncology due to the limited options available for advanced cases. This review briefly summarizes our current understanding of T and B cell lymphomagenesis, with a focus on recognized molecular alterations that may provide investigative therapeutic targets. The authors reviewed antibody-directed therapies investigated in the setting of lymphoma: this term includes a broad spectrum of approaches, from antibody–drug conjugates such as brentuximab vedotin, to bi-specific antibodies, antibody combinations, antibody-conjugated nanotherapeutics, radioimmunotherapy and, finally, photoimmunotherapy with specific antibody–photoadsorber conjugates, as an attractive strategy in development for the future management of cutaneous lymphoma.

Multidisciplinary Approach to the Diagnosis and Therapy of Mycosis Fungoides

Mycosis fungoides is the most common primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, characterized by skin-homing CD4+ T cells derivation, indolent course, and low-grade of malignancy. Mycosis fungoides's classic type typically onsets with cutaneous erythematous patches, plaque, and tumor. In WHO-EORTC classification, folliculotropic mycosis fungoides, pagetoid reticulosis, and granulomatous slack skin are recognized as distinct variants of mycosis fungoides, because of their clinical and histological features, behavior, and /or prognosis. Mycosis fungoides often shows diagnostic difficulties, due to its absence of specific features and lesional polymorphism. A patient's treatment requires staging. In about 10% of cases, mycosis fungoides can progress to lymph nodes and internal organs. Prognosis is poor at advanced stage and management needs a multidisciplinary team approach. Advanced stage disease including tumors, erythroderma, and nodal, visceral, or blood involvement needs skin directed therapy associated with systemic drugs. Skin directed therapy includes steroids, nitrogen mustard, bexarotene gel, phototherapy UVB, and photochemiotherapy, i.e., total skin electron radiotherapy. Systemic therapies include retinoids, bexarotene, interferon, histone deacetylase inhibitors, photopheresis, targeted immunotherapy, and cytotoxic chemotherapy. Complexity of mycosis fungoides associated with long-term chronic evolution and multiple therapy based on disease stage need a multidisciplinary team approach to be treated.

Integrating novel agents into the treatment of advanced mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome

Agents targeting the unique biology of mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome are quickly being incorporated into clinical management. With these new therapies, we are now capable of inducing more durable responses and even complete remissions in advanced disease, outcomes which were exceedingly rare with prior therapies. Yet, even this new generation of therapies typically produce objective responses in only a minority of patients. As our therapeutic options increase, we are now challenged with selecting treatments from a growing list of options. To gain the full benefit of these novel agents, we must develop strategies to match treatments for the patients most likely to benefit from them. Here, we consider both the current approaches to treatment selection based on clinical features and the future of molecular biomarker-guided therapy for patients with this heterogeneous disease.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas: 2023 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are a heterogenous group of T-cell neoplasms 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

TNMB (tumor, node, metastasis, blood) 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 the blood involvement are generally approached with systemic therapies, including biologic-response modifiers, histone deacetylase inhibitors, or antibody-based strategies, in an escalating fashion. In highly-selected patients, allogeneic stem-cell transplantation may be considered, as this may be curative in some patients.

African American and Caucasian patients with Sézary syndrome have no differences in outcomes at an ethnically diverse urban medical center

Sézary syndrome (SS) is an aggressive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with poor survival. We performed a retrospective review of SS patients at Emory University from 1990 to 2020. We collected data on race, clinical characteristics, therapy, and social determinants of health. Clinical endpoints were overall survival (OS) and time to next treatment (TTNT). Univariate association and multivariable analyses were assessed by Cox proportional hazards models. Among 62 patients, 45.2% were AA. The median OS and TTNT were 3.1 years and 6.3 months, respectively, with no difference by race. AA patients had a higher median baseline LDH (360 vs. 232, p = 0.002) and a longer delay in initiation of systemic therapy compared to CC patients (3.17 vs. 2.14 months, p = 0.039), but a shorter commute (<10 miles) and no difference in insurance coverage (p = 0.260). AA patients at an academic center had unique clinical features and treatment patterns, but similar survival to CC SS patients.

Prognosis in early stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma treated with psoralen plus ultraviolet A irradiation and low-dose Interferon-α: long-term efficacy and survival according to conventional and emerging clinical endpoints

Patients with early stage Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) usually have a benign and chronic disease course, characterized by temporally response to conventional skin directed therapies and intrinsic possibility to evolve. Using the combination of psoralen plus ultraviolet A irradiation (PUVA) and low-dose Interferon-α (INF), the principal treatment goal is to keep confined the disease to the skin, preventing disease progression. Among 87 patients with early stage IA to IIA MF treated with low-dose IFN-α2b and PUVA in our Center, complete remission (CR) were reported in 70 patients (80.5%) and the overall response rate (ORR) was 97.8% (n=85), with a median time to best response to therapy of 5 months (range, 1-30). Among the responders, only the 8% of patients had a relapse with major event. The median follow-up was 207 months (range, 6-295). Survival data showed a median overall survival (OS) not reached (95% CI; 235-NR months), a disease free survival (DFS) of 210 months (95% CI; 200-226 months) and a median time to next treatment (TTNT) of 38.5 months (95% CI, 33-46 months). The long follow up of this study verifies our preliminary results already published in 2006 and confirms the efficacy of INF-PUVA combination therapy in a real world setting, according conventional (OS and DFS) and emerging (TTNT) clinical endpoint of treatment efficacy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Subtlety of Granulomatous Mycosis Fungoides: A Retrospective Case Series Study and Proposal of Helpful Multimodal Diagnostic Approach With Literature Review

ABSTRACT

Granulomatous mycosis fungoides (GMF) harbors a worse prognosis compared with classic MF and remains a significant diagnostic dilemma. We analyzed clinicopathologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular characteristics of GMF to develop a diagnostic algorithm. Our methodology involved a retrospective case series study of patients with GMF from our database between 2014 and 2020. A total of 8 patients with 9 biopsies of GMF were identified. Skin manifestations had variable clinical phenotype. Histologically, all cases demonstrated atypical CD4+ T-cell infiltrate with scant in 50% (n = 4), focal 37.5% (n = 3), and absent 25% (n = 2) epidermotropism. Granuloma formation was seen in 77.8% biopsies (n = 7) with sarcoid-type granulomas in 57.1% (n = 4) and granuloma annulare-like type in 42.9% (n = 3). In 66.7% of biopsies (n = 6), the CD4:CD8 ratio was >4:1 and 66.6% (n = 6) of biopsies showed ≥50% loss of CD7 expression. T-cell receptor gene rearrangement studies performed on biopsy sections were positive in all biopsies (n = 6), whereas peripheral blood T-cell receptor gene rearrangement studies did not identify clonality. In conclusion, GMF has subtle or absent epidermotropism and variable granulomatous reaction; thus, the diagnosis requires a multimodal approach, and our proposed algorithm provides a framework to approach this diagnostic challenge.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas: 2021 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are a heterogenous group of T-cell neoplasms 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

TNMB (tumor, node, metastasis, blood) staging remains the most important prognostic factor in MF/SS and forms the basis for a "risk-adapted," multi-disciplinary 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 systemic therapies, including biologic-response modifiers, histone deacetylase inhibitors, or antibody-based strategies, in an escalating fashion. In highly-selected patients, allogeneic stem-cell transplantation may be considered, as this may be curative in some patients.

Italian expert-based recommendations on the use of photo(chemo)therapy in the management of mycosis fungoides: Results of an e-Delphi consensus

BACKGROUND

Phototherapy is a mainstay for the treatment of MF. However, there is scarce evidence for its use, mostly due to the lack of a unified schedule.

AIMS

The primary aim of this study was to establish the first structured, expert-based consensus regarding the indications and technical schedules of NB-UVB and PUVA for MF. The secondary aim was to determine the consensus level for each specific item.

MATERIALS & METHODS

E-delphi study. Item-specific expert consensus was defined as the number of "Totally Agree" results to ≥80% of the panelists. Cronbach alpha index ≥0.7 was used as a measure of homogeneity in the responses among questions related to the same topic.

RESULTS

Overall, there was a high homogeneity among responders (0.78). On specific topics, the highest grade was observed for technical items (0.8) followed by indications for early (0.73) and advanced stages (0.7).

CONCLUSIONS

Items related to the most canonical indications of phototherapy and to treatment schedules showed the highest agreements rates. There is consensus about the use of standardized treatment schedules for the induction and consolidation phases for NB-UVB and PUVA in MF.

Epigenetics in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) comprise a group of heterogeneous diseases involving malignant T cells. The pathogenesis and etiology of CTCL are still unclear, although a large number of genetic and epidemiological studies on CTCL have been conducted. Most CTCLs have an indolent course, making early diagnosis difficult. Once large-cell transformation occurs, CTCL progresses to more aggressive types, resulting in an overall survival of less than five years. Epigenetic drugs, which have shown certain curative effects, have been selected as third-line drugs in patients with relapsing and refractory CTCL. Many studies have also identified epigenetic biomarkers from tissues and peripheral blood of patients with CTCL and suggested that epigenetic changes play a role in malignant transformation and histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) resistance in CTCL. Single-cell sequencing has been applied in CTCL studies, revealing heterogeneity in CTCL malignant T cells. The mechanisms of HDACi resistance have also been described, further facilitating the discovery of novel HDACi targets. Despite the heterogeneity of CTCL disease and its obscure pathogenesis, more epigenetic abnormalities have been gradually discovered recently, which not only enables us to understand CTCL disease further but also improves our understanding of the specific role of epigenetics in the pathogenesis and treatment. In this review, we discuss the recent discoveries concerning the pathological roles of epigenetics and epigenetic therapy in CTCL.

Novel therapies targeting cutaneous T cell lymphomas and their microenvironment

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) are rare non-Hodgkin lymphomas with a generally indolent course managed with topical, skin-directed therapies. A small subset, however, will progress to advanced stage disease necessitating systemic therapy for disease control. Currently approved therapies have low response rates and generally short durations of response. Novel therapies, therefore, are urgently needed to address this unmet need. In this review, the mechanisms of CTCL pathogenesis and progression, including the role of the tumor microenvironment and molecular alterations, are summarized. Based on these biologic insights, novel therapies currently under investigation and those with a strong preclinical biologic rationale including T cell and macrophage checkpoint inhibitors, epigenetic regulators, targeted antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and apoptosis modulating therapies are discussed.

Role of chromatin assembly factor-1/p60 and poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 in mycosis fungoides

Mycosis fungoides (MF) represents the most common type of cutaneous lymphoma. In the majority of patients, the disease has a slow evolution and a protracted course; however, a subset of patients shows poor oncologic outcomes. Unfortunately, there are no reliable prognostic markers for MF, and the currently available treatments are only effective in a minority of patients. This study aimed to evaluate the expression and clinical significance of PARP-1 and CAF-1/p60 in MF. Sixty-four MF representatives of the different stages of disease were assessed by immunohistochemistry for PARP-1 and CAF-1/p60. The association of PARP-1 and CAF-1/p60 with the MF stage and outcome was assessed by using Fisher’s exact test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with the Log-rank test; a p value < 0.05 was considered significant. PARP-1 was overexpressed in 57.9% of MF and was significantly associated with a MF stage > II (p = 0.034) but not with the risk of death (p = 0.237). CAF-1/p60 was overexpressed in 26.8% of MF and was significantly associated with decreased overall survival (p < 0.001) but not with the MF stage (p = 1). A significant association was found between PARP-1 overexpression and CAF-1/p60 overexpression (p = 0.0025). Simultaneous overexpression of PARP-1 and CAF-1/p60 was significantly associated with decreased overall survival (p < 0.001), although less strongly than CAF-1/p60 alone (χ² = 14.916 vs 21.729, respectively). In MF, PARP-1 is overexpressed in advanced stages, while CAF-1/p60 is overexpressed in the cases with shorter overall survival, appearing as a significant prognostic marker. A role for PARP-1 inhibitors and anti-CAF-1/p60 targeted therapy may be reasonably hypothesized in MF.

Time to Next Treatment as a Meaningful Endpoint for Trials of Primary Cutaneous Lymphoma

Time to next treatment (TTNT) is an emerging endpoint in clinical studies of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL), with utility as a surrogate marker for the “duration of clinical benefit”. TTNT provides a highly clinically meaningful endpoint that uniquely reflects not only the duration of treatment efficacy on disease and symptom control, but also incorporates the patient experience by accounting for patient compliance and tolerance to the studied therapy(s). Given the distinct challenges of pin-pointing the exact date of progression in patients with multi-compartmental CTCL, TTNT overcomes many of the shortcomings of conventional, disease-focused, clinical endpoints in primary CTCL research. Although widely accepted in clinical research for numerous other incurable malignancies, TTNT currently lacks a standardised definition. In this paper, we describe the value of TTNT as a clinical endpoint, review the applications of TTNT in primary CTCL research, and propose a standardised definition of TTNT to be applied in future clinical research of primary CTCL therapies.

Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome: An Update

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are a heterogeneous collection of non-Hodgkin lymphomas that arise from skin-tropic memory T lymphocytes. Among them, mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are the most common malignancies. Diagnosis requires the combination of clinical, pathologic, and molecular features. Significant advances have been made in understanding the genetic and epigenetic aberrations in SS and to some extent in MF. Several prognostic factors have been identified. The goal of treatment is to minimize morbidity and limit disease progression. However, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, considered for patients with advanced stages, is the only therapy with curative intent.

Lack of Durable Remission with Conventional-Dose Total Skin Electron Therapy for the Management of Sezary Syndrome and Multiply Relapsed Mycosis Fungoides

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome (SS) are multi-relapsing, morbid, cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Optimal treatment sequencing remains undefined. Total skin electron therapy (TSE) is a highly technical, skin-directed treatment, uniquely producing symptom-free and treatment-free intervals. Recent publications favour low-dose TSE for reduced toxicity, but early data support conventional-dose TSE (cdTSE) for longer disease control. Patient selection requires weighing-up tolerability against response durability. We investigated duration of benefit from cdTSE in patients with poorer prognosis diseases: SS and heavily pre-treated MF. Endpoints were overall survival, and “time to next treatment” (TTNT) as surrogate for clinical benefit duration. Seventy patients (53 MF, 17 SS) were eligible: median prior treatments, 4; median cdTSE dose, 30 Gy; median follow-up, 5.8 years. SS patients had worse prognosis (HR = 5.0, p < 0.001) and shorter TTNT (HR = 4.5, p < 0.001) than MF patients; median TTNT was only 3.7 months. Heavily pre-treated MF patients had inferior prognosis (HR = 1.19 per additional line, p = 0.005), and shorter TTNT (HR = 1.13 per additional line, p = 0.031). Median TTNT for MF patients with ≥3 prior treatments was 7.1 months, versus 23.2 months for 0–2 prior treatments. In conclusion, cdTSE has a limited role in SS. TTNT is reduced in heavily pre-treated MF patients, suggesting greater benefit when utilized earlier in treatment sequencing.

Guidelines on the Use of Therapeutic Apheresis in Clinical Practice - Evidence-Based Approach from the Writing Committee of the American Society for Apheresis: The Eighth Special Issue

The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) Journal of Clinical Apheresis (JCA) Special Issue Writing Committee is charged with reviewing, updating and categorizing indications for the evidence-based use of therapeutic apheresis (TA) in human disease. Since the 2007 JCA Special Issue (Fourth Edition), the committee has incorporated systematic review and evidence-based approaches in the grading and categorization of apheresis indications. This Eighth Edition of the JCA Special Issue continues to maintain this methodology and rigor in order to make recommendations on the use of apheresis in a wide variety of diseases/conditions. The JCA Eighth Edition, like its predecessor, continues to apply the category and grading system definitions in fact sheets. The general layout and concept of a fact sheet that was introduced in the Fourth Edition, has largely been maintained in this edition. Each fact sheet succinctly summarizes the evidence for the use of TA in a specific disease entity or medical condition. The Eighth Edition comprises 84 fact sheets for relevant diseases and medical conditions, with 157 graded and categorized indications and/or TA modalities. The Eighth Edition of the JCA Special Issue seeks to continue to serve as a key resource that guides the utilization of TA in the treatment of human disease.

Mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome: 2019 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) are a heterogenous group of T-cell neoplasms 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

TNMB (tumor, node, metastasis, blood) staging remains the most important prognostic factor in MF/SS and forms the basis for a "risk-adapted," multi-disciplinary approach to treatment. For patients with disease limited to the skin, skin-directed therapies are 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 systemic therapies. These include biologic-response modifiers, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, or antibody-based strategies, in an escalating fashion. In highly-selected patients, allogeneic stem-cell transplantation may be considered, as this may be curative in some patients.

Prolonged survival with the early use of a novel extracorporeal photopheresis regimen in patients with Sézary syndrome

Gao et al report that early use of extracorporeal photopheresis improves time to next treatment and survival in patients with Sézary syndrome.

Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies for Early-Stage Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

The diagnosis of early stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is often difficult, particularly in mycosis fungoides (MF), because the clinical presentation, histological findings, and laboratory findings of MF resemble those of inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and parapsoriasis en plaque. Furthermore, MF sometimes occurs with or after these inflammatory skin diseases. The current diagnostic criteria heavily rely on clinical impressions along with assessments of T cell clonality. To make a diagnosis of early-stage MF, the detection of a malignant clone is critical. T cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements have been detected by southern blotting or polymerase chain reaction for this purpose, but the results of these methods are insufficient. High-throughput TCR sequencing has provided insights into the complexities of the immune repertoire. Accordingly, his technique is more sensitive and specific than current methods, making it useful for the detection of early lesions and monitoring responses to therapy.

GATA-3 in T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders

GATA-3 regulates the differentiation, proliferation, survival, and function of peripheral T cells and their thymic progenitors. Recent findings, reviewed here, not only implicate GATA-3 in the pathogenesis of molecularly, genetically, and clinically distinct T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, but also have significant diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications.

[Treatment of mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome]

Adequate therapeutic management of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) requires the identification of the exact CTCL stage and entity within the current WHO classification. There is no curative therapy for CTCL yet, so that treatment currently aims at improving symptoms and quality of life as well as reducing relapse rates. The treatment has to be stage-adapted. Therapeutic options comprise skin-directed as well as systemic treatment. In early stages, phototherapy and local steroids are the first-line therapeutic options. For the therapy of higher stages, interferon alpha and the RXR-specific retinoid bexarotene are used as first-line medications. Second-line treatment comprises monochemotherapy with agents like gemcitabine or liposomal doxorubicine. Nevertheless, the high relapse rates in higher stages make novel alternative treatment options necessary. As future therapy, especially the fusion protein brentuximab-vedotin directed against CD30 shows promising potential in clinical studies.

Current Status of HDAC Inhibitors in Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are a heterogeneous group of lymphomas that are characterized by primary skin involvement. Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS), the two most common subtypes of CTCL, can be difficult to manage clinically as there are few effective treatment options available. Recently, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have emerged as promising therapies with favorable adverse effect profiles, compared with traditional chemotherapies. In this article, we review the published literature to evaluate the role of HDACi in the treatment of CTCL. Specifically, we (1) briefly discuss the molecular rationale for the use of HDACi in CTCL; (2) compare the efficacy, tolerability, and adverse effects of HDACi; (3) review the cardiac safety data; and (4) discuss optimization of therapy with HDACi in the treatment of CTCL.

Combination of low-dose total skin electron beam therapy and subsequent localized skin electron beam therapy as a therapeutic option for advanced-stage mycosis fungoides

Electron beam therapy (EBT) is an established treatment for mycosis fungoides (MF), but evidence for the use of EBT in advanced cutaneous conditions is limited, and optimal scheduling of the regimen for such conditions remains unclear. We report the case of a 44-year-old woman diagnosed with MF with widespread cutaneous lesions, including multiple huge tumours in the craniofacial area. Low-dose total skin (TS)EBT and subsequent localized skin (LS)EBT achieved striking improvements in eruptions. Oral etretinate was also administered during therapy. Our experience implies that combined TSEBT and LSEBT may be worth attempting when a patient presents with both widespread lesions and prominent tumours, even when the tumours are extremely large.

A single center phase II study of ixazomib in patients with relapsed or refractory cutaneous or peripheral T-cell lymphomas

The transcription factor GATA-3, highly expressed in many cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL), confers resistance to chemotherapy in a cell-autonomous manner. As GATA-3 is transcriptionally regulated by NF-κB, we sought to determine the extent to which proteasomal inhibition impairs NF-κB activation and GATA-3 expression and cell viability in malignant T cells. Proteasome inhibition, NF-κB activity, GATA-3 expression, and cell viability were examined in patient-derived cell lines and primary T-cell lymphoma specimens ex vivo treated with the oral proteasome inhibitor ixazomib. Significant reductions in cell viability, NF-κB activation, and GATA-3 expression were observed preclinically in ixazomib-treated cells. Therefore, an investigator-initiated, single-center, phase II study with this agent in patients with relapsed/refractory CTCL/PTCL was conducted. Concordant with our preclinical observations, a significant reduction in NF-κB activation and GATA-3 expression was observed in an exceptional responder following one month of treatment with ixazomib. While ixazomib had limited activity in this small and heterogeneous cohort of patients, inhibition of the NF-κB/GATA-3 axis in a single exceptional responder suggests that ixazomib may have utility in appropriately selected patients or in combination with other agents.

Multidisciplinary Management of Mycosis Fungoides/Sézary Syndrome

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Diagnosis and management of mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome (MF/SS) require accurate clinicopathological correlation and a multidisciplinary approach. We reviewed major advances in the field regarding diagnostic and prognostic tools as well as skin-directed therapies (SDTs) and systemic agents for MF/SS published in the past 2 years.

RECENT FINDINGS

Improved technology (T-cell receptor high-throughput sequencing) and increased multicenter collaboration (Cutaneous Lymphoma International Consortium) have led to diagnostic/prognostic advances. Concurrently, numerous genomic studies have enhanced understanding of disease pathogenesis. Advances in SDTs include topical resiquimod, a novel potent Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist; consensus CTCL phototherapy guidelines; and use of low-dose radiation therapy. Novel systemic therapies for advanced disease of note include targeted antibody drug conjugates (brentuximab vedotin), immune checkpoint inhibitors, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Our "toolbox" to diagnose and treat the spectrum of MF/SS continues to expand. Further characterization of genomic data going forward will enable a rational approach to selecting and combining therapies to improve patient care.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: 2017 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

TNMB (tumor, node, metastasis, blood) staging remains the most important prognostic factor in MF/SS and forms the basis for a "risk-adapted," multi-disciplinary 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 or histone deacetylase inhibitors prior to escalating therapy to include systemic, single-agent chemotherapy. In highly-selected patients, allogeneic stem-cell transplantation may be considered, as this may be curative in some patients.