Pembrolizumab in mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome: Updated results of the CITN multicenter Phase 2 study

How we treat advanced stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma - mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome

T-cell lymphomas (TCLs) constitute a rare subset of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, with mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome (MF/SS) being the most common subtype of cutaneous TCLs (CTCLs). Considered an incurable but treatable disease, MF/SS management presents several challenges including diagnostic delays, debilitating effect on patients' quality of life, need for several lines of therapies, multidisciplinary care and cumulative drug toxicities limiting duration of use. The present review intends to provide an overview of the recent advances in our understanding of the biology of CTCL and how these are being leveraged to provide additional treatment options for management of advanced and recurrent disease. In addition, the discussion of the different modalities of treatment is summarised to further outline the importance of multidisciplinary care and early referral to CTCL centres.

Low-dose total skin electron beam therapy: Quality of life improvement and clinical impact of maintenance and adjuvant treatment in patients with mycosis fungoides or Sezary syndrome

PURPOSE

Total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) has proved to be a safe and effective treatment for cutaneous T‑cell lymphomas. Here, we examined the impact of this treatment on patient quality of life and outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-four patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) or Sezary syndrome (SS) received 48 TSEBT courses with a median dose of 12 Gy within the past 8 years at our institute. Patient and treatment characteristics for these cases as well as the impact of TSEBT on quality of life and duration of response were retrospectively analyzed and compared.

RESULTS

The median modified Severity-Weighted Assessment Tool score before the start of TSEBT was 44. The overall response rate was 88%, with a complete response (CR) rate of 33%. The median follow-up period was 13 months. The median duration of response (DOR) and progression-free survival (PFS) for the entire cohort were 10 months and 9 months, respectively. Patient-reported symptom burden was measured with the Dermatological Life Quality Index and Skindex-29 questionnaires. The mean symptom reductions were 6 ± 8 (P = 0.005) and 21 ± 24 (P = 0.002), respectively. In the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General Assessment, significant improvements in the emotional (P = 0.03) domains were observed after TSEBT. Patients who received maintenance or adjuvant treatments had a longer PFS (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

TSEBT improved disease symptoms and significantly improved emotional domains of patients' quality of life in patients with MF or SS. In addition, our results indicate that maintenance or adjuvant therapy after TSEBT may improve the PFS.

Antibody-Directed Therapies: Toward a Durable and Tolerable Treatment Platform for CTCL

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) are a rare group of heterogeneous disorders characterized by cutaneous involvement of monoclonal T-lymphocytes. Although indolent at early stages, CTCL can confer significant morbidity, and mortality when advanced. There is an unmet need for tolerable and durable treatments with antibodies recently gaining promise. Here we review approved systemic therapies and discuss select antibodies in development.