Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in non-blood-related family members: report of an additional case

Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a group of non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphomas that develop in and affect the skin but can potentially spread to other organs. There are many subtypes, the most common of which are mycosis fungoides, Sezary syndrome, lymphomatoid papulosis, and primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Cutaneous lymphoma is a common cause of recalcitrant chronic skin rash and notoriously mimics other dermatologic and hematologic conditions, often resulting in diagnostic delays of months to years. This review provides an introduction to cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, with a primary focus on the clinical presentation, diagnosis, immunopathogenesis, and management of the condition.

Development of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Following Biologic Treatment: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma following biologic therapy is extremely rare.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the development of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) following treatment with a biologic agent.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was performed for patients who developed CTCL after exposure to biologic therapy. Works were limited to English language and excluded animal studies, guidelines, and protocols. Potentially eligible titles were identified using controlled vocabulary in tandem with key words. The search strategy was peer-reviewed prior to execution.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight total studies revealed sixty-two patients who developed CTCL following exposure to a biologic agent. Of these, 44% were Caucasian, and the median age at diagnosis was 56 years. Seventy-six percent of patients received biologic therapy for a primary inflammatory skin condition. Dupilumab was the most reported (42%) agent amongst the cohort. The median time from initiation of the biologic agent to diagnosis of CTCL in these cases was 4 months (range: 0-84). Mycosis fungoides (65%) and Sézary syndrome (10%) were the most common subtypes of CTCL diagnosed. Twenty-one (34%) patients were reported to be alive with disease, outcome was not reported in 21 patients (34%), ten patients (16%) were alive and in complete remission, eight patients (13%) died of disease and two patients (3%) died due to other causes.

CONCLUSION

While biologic agents may have a role in the development of CTCL, in order to definitively elucidate their role, more methodologically robust studies (such as those that utilize population databases) would need to occur.

Disparities in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Incidence by Race/Ethnicity and Area-Based Socioeconomic Status

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare type of extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). This study uses population-based data from the New Jersey (NJ) State Cancer Registry to examine geographic variation in CTCL incidence and evaluates whether CTCL risk varies by race/ethnicity and census tract socioeconomic status (SES). The study included 1163 cases diagnosed in NJ between 2006 and 2014. Geographic variation and possible clustering of high CTCL rates were assessed using Bayesian geo-additive models. The associations between CTCL risk and race/ethnicity and census tract SES, measured as median household income, were examined using Poisson regression. CTCL incidence varied across NJ, but there were no statistically significant geographic clusters. After adjustment for age, sex, and race/ethnicity, the relative risk (RR) of CTCL was significantly higher (RR = 1.47, 95% confidence interval: 1.22-1.78) in the highest income quartile than in the lowest. The interactions between race/ethnicity and SES indicated that the income gradients by RR were evident in all groups. Compared to non-Hispanic White individuals in low-income tracts, CTCL risk was higher among non-Hispanic White individuals in high-income tracts and among non-Hispanic Black individuals in tracts of all income levels. Our findings suggest racial disparities and a strong socioeconomic gradient with higher CTCL risk among cases living in census tracts with higher income compared to those living in lower-income tracts.

Geographic clustering of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in New Jersey: an exploratory analysis using residential histories

PURPOSE

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Previous studies have reported geographic clustering of CTCL based on the residence at the time of diagnosis. We explore geographic clustering of CTCL using both the residence at the time of diagnosis and past residences using data from the New Jersey State Cancer Registry.

METHODS

CTCL cases (n = 1,163) diagnosed between 2006-2014 were matched to colon cancer controls (n = 17,049) on sex, age, race/ethnicity, and birth year. Jacquez's Q-Statistic was used to identify temporal clustering of cases compared to controls. Geographic clustering was assessed using the Bernoulli-based scan-statistic to compare cases to controls, and the Poisson-based scan-statisic to compare the observed number of cases to the number expected based on the general population. Significant clusters (p < 0.05) were mapped, and standard incidence ratios (SIR) reported. We adjusted for diagnosis year, sex, and age.

RESULTS

The Q-statistic identified significant temporal clustering of cases based on past residences in the study area from 1992 to 2002. A cluster was detected in 1992 in Bergen County in northern New Jersey based on the Bernoulli (1992 SIR 1.84) and Poisson (1992 SIR 1.86) scan-statistics. Using the Poisson scan-statistic with the diagnosis location, we found evidence of an elevated risk in this same area, but the results were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

There is evidence of geographic clustering of CTCL cases in New Jersey based on past residences. Additional studies are necessary to understand the possible reasons for the excess of CTCL cases living in this specific area some 8-14 years prior to diagnosis.

Single-Cell Heterogeneity of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas Revealed Using RNA-Seq Technologies

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) represent a large, heterogeneous group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas that primarily affect the skin. Among multiple CTCL variants, the most prevalent types are mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS). In the past decade, the molecular genetics of CTCL have been the target of intense study, increasing the knowledge of CTCL genomic alterations, discovering novel biomarkers, and potential targets for patient-specific therapy. However, the detailed pathogenesis of CTCL development still needs to be discovered. This review aims to summarize the novel insights into molecular heterogeneity of malignant cells using high-throughput technologies, such as RNA sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing, which might be useful to identify tumour-specific molecular signatures and, therefore, offer guidance for therapy, diagnosis, and prognosis of CTCL.

Clustering of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is associated with increased levels of the environmental toxins benzene and trichloroethylene in the state of Georgia

BACKGROUND

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma arising in the skin. Geographic clustering of CTCL has recently been reported, but its association with environmental factors is unknown. Benzene and trichloroethylene (TCE) are environmental toxins with carcinogenic properties. The authors investigated associations between geographic clustering of CTCL incidence in the state of Georgia with benzene and TCE exposure.

METHODS

The statewide county-level incidence of CTCL within Georgia was obtained from the Georgia Cancer Registry for the years 1999 to 2015. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated by dividing observed cases by expected cases using national incidence rates by age, sex, and race. Clustering of CTCL was analyzed using spatial analyses. County-level concentrations of benzene and TCE between 1996 and 2014 were collected from the Environmental Protection Agency's National Air Toxics Assessment database. Linear regression analyses on CTCL incidence were performed comparing SIRs with levels of benzene and TCE by county.

RESULTS

There was significant geographic clustering of CTCL in Georgia, particularly around Atlanta, which was correlated with an increased concentration of benzene and TCE exposure. Among the 4 most populous counties in Georgia, CTCL incidence was between 1.2 and 1.9 times higher than the state average, and benzene and TCE levels were between 2.9 and 8.8 times higher.

CONCLUSIONS

The current results demonstrate nonrandom geographic clustering of CTCL incidence in Georgia. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first analysis to identify a correlation between geographic clustering of CTCL and environmental toxic exposures.

T-cell Lymphoma Epidemiology: the Known and Unknown

T-cell lymphoma, a collection of subtypes of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is a rare malignancy. The low prevalence of this disease has made it challenging to identify subtype-specific risk factors. Potential risk factors could enable us to identify high-risk patients and predict patient outcomes. Here, we report on the current epidemiologic and prognostic factors data associated with the individual subtypes both of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) found in large cohort and case studies. Additionally, with recent findings, as well as updates in the new World Health Organization (WHO) classification of lymphoid neoplasms, we consider what this could do to change our approach to this group of diseases.

Role of infectious agents in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: facts and controversies

The etiology of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) remains unknown, with potential infectious causes having been explored. This contribution evaluates the evidence suggesting an infectious etiology and pathogenesis of the disease, characterizes the relationships between various specific pathogens and CTCL, and discusses some of the difficulties in establishing a causal link between infectious agents and CTCL carcinogenesis. Researchers have evaluated CTCL specimens for evidence of infection with a variety of agents, including human T-lymphotropic virus, Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus-8, and Staphylococcus aureus, although other pathogens also have been detected in CTCL. Although there is significant evidence implicating one or more infectious agents in CTCL, studies to date have not linked definitively any pathogen to disease development, and various studies have yielded conflicting results.