The pathogenesis of mycosis fungoides

Multi-Omic Data Integration Suggests Putative Microbial Drivers of Aetiopathogenesis in Mycosis Fungoides

BACKGROUND

Mycosis fungoides (MF) represents the most prevalent entity of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL). The MF aetiopathogenesis is incompletely understood, due to significant transcriptomic heterogeneity and conflicting views on whether oncologic transformation originates in early thymocytes or mature effector memory T cells. Recently, using clinical specimens, our group showed that the skin microbiome aggravates disease course, mainly driven by an outgrowing, pathogenic S. aureus strain carrying the virulence factor spa, which was shown by others to activate the T cell signalling pathway NF-κB.

METHODS

To explore the role of the skin microbiome in MF aetiopathogenesis, we here performed RNA sequencing, multi-omic data integration of the skin microbiome and skin transcriptome using Multi-Omic Factor Analysis (MOFA), virome profiling, and T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing in 10 MF patients from our previous study group.

RESULTS

We observed that inter-patient transcriptional heterogeneity may be largely attributed to differential activation of T cell signalling pathways. Notably, the MOFA model resolved the heterogenous activation pattern of T cell signalling after denoising the transcriptome from microbial influence. The MOFA model suggested that the outgrowing S. aureus strain evoked signalling by non-canonical NF-κB and IL-1B, which in turn may have fuelled the aggravated disease course. Further, the MOFA model indicated aberrant pathways of early thymopoiesis alongside enrichment of antiviral innate immunity. In line with this, viral prevalence, particularly of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), trended higher in both lesional skin and the blood compared to nonlesional skin. Additionally, TCRs in both MF skin lesions and the blood were significantly more likely to recognize EBV peptides involved in latent infection.

CONCLUSIONS

First, our findings suggest that S. aureus with its virulence factor spa fuels MF progression through non-canonical NF-κB and IL-1B signalling. Second, our data provide insights into the potential role of viruses in MF aetiology. Last, we propose a model of microbiome-driven MF aetiopathogenesis: Thymocytes undergo initial oncologic transformation, potentially caused by viruses. After maturation and skin infiltration, an outgrowing, pathogenic S. aureus strain evokes activation and maturation into effector memory T cells, resulting in aggressive disease. Further studies are warranted to verify and extend our data, which are based on computational analyses.

CD4/CD8 double-negative mycosis fungoides: a review

Mycosis fungoides (MF) stands as the predominant form of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). It manifests a diverse array of clinical, histological, and immunophenotypic variations, each bearing distinct prognostic implications. The typical immunophenotypic profile of mycosis fungoides involves CD3+/CD4+/CD45RO+ memory T cells. Notably, the CD4-/CD8- double-negative variant of MF is a rare occurrence, observed in approximately 12% of early-stage cases and more prevalent in tumor-stage instances, often correlated with atypical clinical presentations. Despite its rarity, scant information is available about double-negative mycosis fungoides, with only a limited number of cases documented in the existing literature. This review aims to provide enhanced clarity, comprehension, and a detailed exploration of the spectrum encompassing double-negative mycosis fungoides.

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.

Clinical and Histologic Variants of CD8+ Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas

Although the vast majority of CTCL subtypes are of the CD4+ T-helper cell differentiation phenotype, there is a spectrum of CD8+ variants that manifest wide-ranging clinical, histologic, and phenotypic features that inform the classification of the disease. CD8, like CD4, and cytotoxic molecules (including TIA and granzyme) are readily detectable via IHC staining of tissue and, when expressed on the phenotypically abnormal T-cell population, can help distinguish specific CTCL subtypes. Nonetheless, given that the histopathologic differential for CD8+ lymphoproliferative disorders and lymphomas may range from very indolent lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) to aggressive entities like CD8+ aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma (AECTCL), CD8 and/or cytotoxic molecule expression alone is insufficient for diagnosis and is not in itself an indicator of prognosis. We present a review of CTCL subtypes that can demonstrate CD8 positivity: CD8+ mycosis fungoides (MF), LyP type D, subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL), primary cutaneous gamma/delta T-cell lymphoma (PCGDTL), CD8+ AECTCL, and acral CD8+ T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (acral CD8+ TCLPD). These diseases may have different clinical manifestations and distinctive treatment algorithms. Due to the rare nature of these diseases, it is imperative to integrate clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical findings to determine an accurate diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan.

From Molecules to Microbes: Tracing Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Pathogenesis through Malignant Inflammation

The etiology of CTCL is a subject of extensive investigation. Researchers have explored links between CTCL and environmental chemical exposures, such as aromatic hydrocarbons (eg, pesticides and benzene), as well as infectious factors, including various viruses (eg, human T-lymphotropic virus [HTLV]-I and HTLV-II) and bacteria (eg, Staphylococcus aureus). There has been growing emphasis on the role of malignant inflammation in CTCL development. In this review, we synthesize studies of environmental and infectious exposures, along with research on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and the involvement of pathogens in disease etiology, providing insight into the pathogenesis of CTCL.

Cutavirus Infection in Large-Plaque Parapsoriasis, a Premalignant Condition of Mycosis Fungoides

BACKGROUND

Cutavirus (CuV) is associated with mycosis fungoides; however, the CuV status in parapsoriasis en plaques (PP), a premalignant inflammatory condition of mycosis fungoides, has not been fully delineated.

METHODS

Fifty-five Japanese patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases, including 13 patients with PP, were studied.

RESULTS

CuV DNA was detected significantly more frequently in biopsies of the lesional skin from patients with PP (38%; 4 of 13) than in those from patients with other inflammatory skin diseases (2%; 1 of 42; P = .009). All CuV-positive PP cases were of the large-plaque parapsoriasis (LPP) subtype. The viral loads ranged from 83 450 to 2 164 170 copies/103 cells. We recovered near-full-length CuV sequences from the CuV-positive LPP biopsies, all of which were of the Japanese/Asian genotype. The CuV genome appeared to be present within lymphoid cells infiltrating the epidermis and dermis. CuV NS1 and VP1 gene transcripts were also detected in the affected tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

The detection of high levels of CuV DNA with the expression of viral mRNA suggests a potential role for CuV in the pathogenesis of LPP, making it necessary to study further the impact of CuV, especially regarding the viral genotype, on the outcomes of patients with CuV-positive LPP.

Lymphoma involvement of the eyelid and eye

Lymphomas of the eye and ocular adnexa are rare lymphoproliferative diseases of the ocular and ocular adnexal tissue. The incidence of these diseases has been rapidly increasing over the past few decades. The exact pathogenesis remains unknown, but it is postulated to be multifactorial and includes genetic aberrations, epigenetic and environmental factors, infectious agents, and chronic antigenic stimulation. The majority of ocular and ocular adnexal lymphomas are of B-cell origin, except for eyelid lymphomas, which are more often of T-cell type. Lymphoproliferative diseases of ocular and ocular adnexal structures are either primary, when they arise in the eye, orbit, lacrimal gland, eyelid, and/or conjunctiva, or secondary extranodal manifestation of systemic lymphoma. Diagnosis is challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach involving ophthalmologists, dermatologists, oncologists, and radiation oncologists.

Mimicry unveiled: The challenging diagnosis of pigmented purpura-like mycosis fungoides initially misdiagnosed as pigmented purpura

Key Clinical Message

Unlike most cases, the lesions were localized to the dorsum of the hand, lacked pruritus (itching), and did not exhibit "sperm-like blood vessels," which are typically pathognomonic to classical MF.

Abstract

The study presents a rare case involving a 44-year-old woman who developed a skin condition on the base of her left thumb. Initially misdiagnosed as pigmented purpura, the need for further investigation arose to determine the nature of the condition accurately. The medical evaluation encompassed a comprehensive analysis of the patient's skin ailment. A series of diagnostic examinations were conducted to ascertain the underlying cause. Although routine blood tests yielded unremarkable results, the distinct characteristics of the rash prompted a more thorough investigation. Subsequent assessment revealed that the skin condition was not pigmented purpura, as initially presumed, but rather a manifestation of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) known as mycosis fungoides (MF). MF is an infrequent lymphoma predominantly affecting individuals aged 45-65, exhibiting a male-to-female sex ratio of 2:1. The annual incidence of MF ranges from 0.3 to 0.96 cases per 100,000 individuals. The woman's skin exhibited discrete patches adorned with colored dots, progressively thickening and pigmentation. Notably, the absence of pruritus did not dispel suspicion. This case underscores the significance of accurately diagnosing uncommon dermatological disorders to facilitate appropriate medical intervention. The unique appearance of the rash and its distinctive features, despite normal blood results, enabled the identification of MF. The patient's treatment encompassed a combination of steroids and narrowband UV therapy. Vigilance, continued research, and heightened awareness are paramount for early intervention and improved patient outcomes. Such efforts contribute to an enhanced understanding of the complexities of this condition.

Staphylococcus aureus induces drug resistance in cancer T cells in Sézary syndrome

ABSTRACT

Patients with Sézary syndrome (SS), a leukemic variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), are prone to Staphylococcus aureus infections and have a poor prognosis due to treatment resistance. Here, we report that S aureus and staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) induce drug resistance in malignant T cells against therapeutics commonly used in CTCL. Supernatant from patient-derived, SE-producing S aureus and recombinant SE significantly inhibit cell death induced by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor romidepsin in primary malignant T cells from patients with SS. Bacterial killing by engineered, bacteriophage-derived, S aureus-specific endolysin (XZ.700) abrogates the effect of S aureus supernatant. Similarly, mutations in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II binding sites of SE type A (SEA) and anti-SEA antibody block induction of resistance. Importantly, SE also triggers resistance to other HDAC inhibitors (vorinostat and resminostat) and chemotherapeutic drugs (doxorubicin and etoposide). Multimodal single-cell sequencing indicates T-cell receptor (TCR), NF-κB, and JAK/STAT signaling pathways (previously associated with drug resistance) as putative mediators of SE-induced drug resistance. In support, inhibition of TCR-signaling and Protein kinase C (upstream of NF-κB) counteracts SE-induced rescue from drug-induced cell death. Inversely, SE cannot rescue from cell death induced by the proteasome/NF-κB inhibitor bortezomib. Inhibition of JAK/STAT only blocks rescue in patients whose malignant T-cell survival is dependent on SE-induced cytokines, suggesting 2 distinct ways SE can induce drug resistance. In conclusion, we show that S aureus enterotoxins induce drug resistance in primary malignant T cells. These findings suggest that S aureus enterotoxins cause clinical treatment resistance in patients with SS, and antibacterial measures may improve the outcome of cancer-directed therapy in patients harboring S aureus.

Malignant wound aetiology, diagnosis and management: a case series and literature review

OBJECTIVE

Malignant wounds develop when neoplastic cells invade the skin either locally or by lymphatic and haematogenous spread. They can present as hard-to-heal wounds and underlying causes include: primary skin cancer; metastasis of extracutaneous primary malignancy; malignant transformation of a hard-to-heal wound; iatrogenic injury; and cutaneous forms of cancers of non-skin origin. High clinical suspicion for a malignant wound should be confirmed with skin biopsy. The aim of this case series is to highlight a combination of both clinically clear cutaneous malignancies and not-so-obvious wounds caused by malignancy.

METHOD

This case series examines patients with malignant wounds of varying aetiology and appearance. For each case, we explain the pathophysiology, atypical features, diagnostic approach and treatment. We also discuss types of wound biopsy and general wound management principles.

RESULTS

Among the 11 cases analysed using descriptive statistics, median wound duration before presentation at our clinic was one year, while median age at presentation was 65 years. Our case series included the following diagnoses: cutaneous metastasis of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast (n=2); cutaneous metastasis of colorectal adenocarcinoma (n=1); Marjolin's ulcer (n=1), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) (n=2), primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n=1), metastatic malignant melanoma (n=1), cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (n=1), cutaneous angiosarcoma (n=1), Kaposi sarcoma (n=1) and recurrent tonsillar SCC with osteoradionecrosis (n=1); one case had both BCC and SCC.

CONCLUSION

Punch and excisional biopsies were the most frequently used diagnostic techniques. Local wound therapy addressed bleeding, malodour, exudate, pain and infection. However, wound healing is usually achieved once the underlying malignancy is treated. In advanced or metastatic disease, palliative wound care aims to prevent exacerbation of existing wounds and focuses on patient comfort.

Expert opinions and clinical experiences with chlormethine gel as maintenance treatment for patients with mycosis fungoides

Maintenance treatment can be recommended for patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) whose disease responds to primary treatment. While positive outcomes have been observed in small studies with maintenance therapy, there is a lack of practical guidelines and agreement on when and how maintenance therapy for MF should be approached. In this article, we discuss expert opinions and clinical experiences on the topic of maintenance therapy for patients with MF, with a focus on chlormethine gel. Ideally, patients should have a durable response before initiating maintenance therapy. The definition of and required duration of durable response are topics that are open to debate and currently have no consensus. Chlormethine gel has several attributes that make it suitable for maintenance therapy; it can be easily applied at home, can be combined with other treatment options for maintenance, and has a manageable safety profile. Chlormethine gel as maintenance therapy can be applied at decreasing frequencies after active treatment with chlormethine gel or other therapies until the minimally effective dose is reached. Patients generally tend to adhere well to chlormethine gel maintenance regimens and may remain on treatment for several years. The experiences described here may be useful for clinicians when deciding on maintenance treatment regimens for their patients. Development of guidelines based on clinical trial outcomes will be important to ensure the most effective maintenance treatment strategies are used for patients with MF.

Generation and optimization of off-the-shelf immunotherapeutics targeting TCR-Vβ2+ T cell malignancy

Current treatments for T cell malignancies encounter issues of disease relapse and off-target toxicity. Using T cell receptor (TCR)Vβ2 as a model, here we demonstrate the rapid generation of an off-the-shelf allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T platform targeting the clone-specific TCR Vβ chain for malignant T cell killing while limiting normal cell destruction. Healthy donor T cells undergo CRISPR-induced TRAC, B2M and CIITA knockout to eliminate T cell-dependent graft-versus-host and host-versus-graft reactivity. Second generation 4-1BB/CD3zeta CAR containing high affinity humanized anti-Vβ scFv is expressed efficiently on donor T cells via both lentivirus and adeno-associated virus transduction with limited detectable pre-existing immunoreactivity. Our optimized CAR-T cells demonstrate specific and persistent killing of Vβ2+ Jurkat cells and Vβ2+ patient derived malignant T cells, in vitro and in vivo, without affecting normal T cells. In parallel, we generate humanized anti-Vβ2 antibody with enhanced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by Fc-engineering for NK cell ADCC therapy.

Chlormethine gel in combination with other therapies for treatment of mycosis fungoides: a review with patient cases

Topical chlormethine gel has been approved as monotherapy for treatment of adult patients with mycosis fungoides (MF), the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. In clinical practice, chlormethine gel is often combined with other skin-directed or systemic therapies to optimize response and target recalcitrant lesions. Positive outcomes with combination regimens using chlormethine gel and topical corticosteroids, phototherapy, retinoids, methotrexate, or interferon-α have been reported in literature. However, there are no treatment guidelines on the use of combination regimens with chlormethine gel. To provide real-world evidence and guidance on the use of chlormethine gel combination regimens, several cases of patients treated with chlormethine gel combined with phototherapy (n = 5), retinoids (n = 16), or mogamulizumab (n = 3) are presented. These different combination regimens showed promising results. Most patients had a complete or partial response following treatment and the combinations were well-tolerated over extended treatment periods. Patients receiving chlormethine gel with retinoids had long-term periods of remission, even after treatment discontinuation. Durations of response of up to 3 years were observed in these patients. This long-term disease control may be the result of disease-modifying effects of chlormethine. Previous studies have shown targeted reductions in malignant T-cell clones in patients treated with chlormethine gel as well as improved post-treatment responses. Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness and safety of combination treatment regimens with chlormethine gel and to assess the impact chlormethine gel has on disease control.

Gut microbiota analyses of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma patients undergoing narrowband ultraviolet B therapy reveal alterations associated with disease treatment

Recent studies have shown a close relationship between cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and its microbiome. CTCL disease progression is associated with gut dysbiosis and alterations in bacterial taxa parallel those observed in immunologically similar atopic dermatitis. Moreover, the microbial profile of lesional skin may predict response to narrowband ultraviolet B (nbUVB), a common skin-directed therapy. However, the relationship between the gut microbiome, an immunologically vital niche, and nbUVB remains unexplored in CTCL. Herein, we performed 16S rRNA sequencing and PICRUSt2 predictive metagenomics on DNA extracted from stool swabs of 13 CTCL patients treated with nbUVB, 8 non-treated patients, and 13 healthy controls. Disease response was assessed with modified Severity Weighted Assessment Tool (mSWAT); of nbUVB-treated patients, 6 improved (decreased mSWAT), 2 remained stable, and 5 worsened (increased mSWAT). Protective commensal bacteria including Lactobacillaceae and Erysipelatoclostridiaceae were significantly less abundant in CTCL patients compared to controls. With treatment, the CTCL gut microbiome exhibited decreased phylogenetic diversity and lower relative abundance of pro-inflammatory Sutterellaceae. Sutterellaceae was also significantly more abundant in patients who worsened, and Eggerthellaceae and Erysipelotrichaceae trended higher in patients who improved. Finally, PICRUSt2 functional predictions based on shifts in abundance of bacterial sequences repeatedly identified alterations in inositol degradation, which plays a key role in host immunomodulation, including inositol phospholipid signaling relevant to T-cell survival and proliferation. Our results bolster the paradigm of gut dysbiosis in CTCL and its functional implications in disease pathogenesis, and further delineate bacterial taxa associated with nbUVB response and with nbUVB treatment itself.

Clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of ultraviolet A1 treatment in early-stage mycosis fungoides

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas primarily involving the skin. Early-stage MF is characterised by non-specific skin lesions and non-diagnostic biopsies. While skin-focused treatments, such as PUVA and narrowband UVB (nbUVB), are the most frequently recommended treatments, the UVA1 efficacy has been researched in recent years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical aspects of UVA1 treatment in patients with early-stage MF.

METHODS

The modified severity weighted assessment scale (mSWAT) was used for total skin body scoring before and after treatment. Skin punch biopsies were taken from the patients before and after treatment. UVA1 therapy was performed five times each week.

RESULTS

This study included 26 patients with early-stage MF. The total number of UVA1 sessions varied between 15 and 34. Complete response was observed in 8 (30.8%) of 26 patients (30.8%). The median mSWAT score decreased statistically significantly from 7.1 to 2.0 after treatment (p < .001). Histopathological complete response was observed in 2 (9.5%) of 21 patients. A statistically significant decrease in dermal interstitial infiltrate was observed on histopathological examination after treatment (p = .039). Epidermal CD4/CD8 levels decreased statistically significantly higher from a median of 2.5-1.2 in the complete clinical response group after treatment (p = .043).

CONCLUSION

According to our results, UVA1 treatment has an effect on early-stage MF in terms of clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemistry.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Risk of Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma: A Danish Population-based Cohort Study

Abstract is missing (Short communication)

Beard Alopecia: An Updated and Comprehensive Review of Etiologies, Presentation and Treatment

Facial hair is an important social and psychologic aspect of clinical appearance for men. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the causes of alopecia of the beard including the prevalence, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatment. In this review, we highlight more common causes of beard alopecia including alopecia areata and pseudofolliculitis barbae, infectious causes such as tinea barbae and herpes simplex folliculitis, and rare causes including dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis and frontal fibrosing alopecia. This review serves as an important resource for clinicians when faced with patients suffering from beard alopecia.

Mycosis Fungoides Exhibits the Features of Skin Tags: A Case Report

We present the case of a 37-year-old male diagnosed with Mycosis fungoides (MF) after gradually developing multiple skin tags and brownish lichenoid papules. The patient had pre-existing erythema over his entire body, especially his face, upper extremities, and trunk, for over 1.5 years. Microscopic examination of the papule and the skin tag (ST) exhibited similar features mainly characterized by superficial dense band-like lymphoid infiltrates and epidermotropism of atypical lymphocytes (Pautrier's micro-abscesses). Immunohistochemistry further revealed the lymphoid infiltrates predominantly expressed LCA, CD3, CD4, and CD45RO but lacked CD7, CD8, CD30, CD20, and CD79a. The finding of this study that reports MF characterized by unusual STs suggests that some causes and effects have not been previously described in MF.

Involvement of cutavirus in a subset of patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with an unfavorable outcome

BACKGROUND

European studies suggest an association between cutavirus (CuV) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL); however, the worldwide prevalence of CuV in patients with CTCL and its prognostic impact remain unknown.

METHODS

We investigated the prevalence and viral loads of CuV DNA using biopsy specimens from the lesional skins of 141 Japanese patients with cutaneous malignancies, including 55 patients with various types of CTCL.

RESULTS

CuV DNA was detected significantly more frequently in biopsies from patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) (38% [13/34]; the most common subtype of CTCL) than in those from patients with other cutaneous malignancies (6% [6/107]; P<0.001). The viral-load range in patients with CuV DNA-positive MF was 23-3922 copies/10³ cells and 8-65 copies/μg of DNA. A phylogenetic analysis using the partial sequences of the CuV viral capsid protein 1 (VP1)/VP2 genes revealed that the CuV sequences identified here were clustered in a Japanese-specific clade distinct from that comprising CuV sequences from European patients with MF. Kaplan-Meier curves and a log-rank test showed that CuV positivity was associated with a shorter disease-specific survival in patients with MF (P = 0.031), whereas no significant difference in overall survival was observed (P = 0.275). No significant correlation was observed between CuV DNA load and survival in patients with CuV-positive MF.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that CuV is associated with MF in a subset of Japanese patients. Large-scale prospective studies are warranted to clarify the role of CuV status, especially regarding the viral genotype, on adverse outcomes in patients with CuV-positive MF.

Integrated transcriptome and trajectory analysis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma identifies putative precancer populations

The incidence of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) increases with age, and blood involvement portends a worse prognosis. To advance our understanding of the development of CTCL and identify potential therapeutic targets, we performed integrative analyses of paired single-cell RNA and T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells from patients with CTCL to reveal disease-unifying features. The malignant CD4+ T cells of CTCL showed highly diverse transcriptomic profiles across patients, with most displaying a mature Th2 differentiation and T-cell exhaustion phenotype. TCR-CDR3 peptide prediction analysis suggested limited diversity between CTCL samples, consistent with a role for a common antigenic stimulus. Potential of heat diffusion for affinity-based trajectory embedding transition analysis identified putative precancerous circulating populations characterized by an intermediate stage of gene expression and mutation level between the normal CD4+ T cells and malignant CTCL cells. We further revealed the therapeutic potential of targeting CD82 and JAK that endow the malignant CTCL cells with survival and proliferation advantages.

Read the clonotype: Next-generation sequencing-based lymphocyte clonality analysis and perspectives for application in pathology

Clonality assessment using the unique rearrangements of immunoglobulin (IG) and T-cell receptor (TR) genes in lymphocytes is a widely applied supplementary test for the diagnosis of B-cell and T-cell lymphoma. To enable a more sensitive detection and a more precise comparison of clones compared with conventional clonality analysis based on fragment analysis, the EuroClonality NGS Working Group developed and validated a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based clonality assay for detection of the IG heavy and kappa light chain and TR gene rearrangements for formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues. We outline the features and advantages of NGS-based clonality detection and discuss potential applications for NGS-based clonality testing in pathology, including site specific lymphoproliferations, immunodeficiency and autoimmune disease and primary and relapsed lymphomas. Also, we briefly discuss the role of T-cell repertoire of reactive lymphocytic infiltrations in solid tumors and B-lymphoma.

Cutaneous lymphomas—fast facts about an orphan disease—a short review

Cutaneous lymphomas are a rare group of primary skin lymphoproliferative disorders, divided into T and B cell lymphomas. They differ substantially in clinical course and therapy. The two main subtypes of primary cutaneous T‑cell lymphomas include mycosis fungoides, which is the most common, and Sézary syndrome, the rare leukemic variant. Skin lesions seen in mycosis fungoides patients are erythematous patches, plaques, or tumors. Most patients remain at patch/plaque (early) stage, while some progress to tumor (advanced) stage during their clinical course. Sézary syndrome is characterized by erythroderma and involvement of lymph nodes and the peripheral blood. Treatment is dependent on the disease stage. Therapeutic options include skin-directed and systemic therapies. In localized, early stage mycosis fungoides, prognosis is usually good which changes in advanced stages. Significant progress has been made in recent years in the clinical management of progressive or relapsed cutaneous T‑cell lymphomas by the approval of new targeted therapies. Although there are no curative treatment options apart from allogeneic transplantation, response rates are often encouraging, in particular when using combination therapies. Primary cutaneous B cell lymphomas are rare and three main subtypes are recognized: primary cutaneous marginal zone lymphoma, primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma, and primary cutaneous diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma, leg type. An accurate diagnosis of the subtype is important for therapeutic management. The most common clinical presentations are red-to-violaceous cutaneous nodules and papules. Primary cutaneous marginal and follicle center lymphoma have excellent 5‑year survival rates of 95–99%.

Single-cell RNA sequencing unveils the communications between malignant T and myeloid cells contributing to tumor growth and immunosuppression in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) is characterized by the accumulation of malignant T cells in the skin. However, advanced CTCL pathophysiology remains elusive and therapeutic options are limited due to the high intratumoral heterogeneity and complicated tumor microenvironment (TME). By comparing the single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) data from advanced CTCL patients and healthy controls (HCs), we showed that CTCL had a higher enrichment of T/NK and myeloid cells. Subpopulations of T cells (CXCR3+, GNLY+, CREM+, and MKI67+ T cells), with high proliferation, stemness, and copy number variation (CNV) levels, contribute to the malignancy of CTCL. Besides, CCL13+ monocytes/macrophages and LAMP3+ cDC cells were enriched and mediated the immunosuppression via inhibitory interactions with malignant T cells, such as CD47-SIRPA, MIF-CD74, and CCR1-CCL18. Notably, elevated expressions of S100A9 and its receptor TLR4, as well as the activation of downstream toll-like receptor and NF-κB pathway were observed in both malignant cells and myeloid cells in CTCL. Cell co-culture experiments further confirmed that the interaction between malignant CTCL cells and macrophages contributed to tumor growth via S100A9 upregulation and NF-kb activation. Our results showed that blocking the S100A9-TLR4 interaction using tasquinimod could inactivate the NF-κB pathway and inhibit the growth of CTCL tumor cells, and trigger cell apoptosis. Collectively, our study revealed a landscape of immunosuppressive TME mediated by interactions between malignant T cells and myeloid cells, and provided novel targets and potential treatment strategies for advanced CTCL patients.

Some New Aspects of Genetic Variability in Patients with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

AIM

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a group of T-cell malignancies that develop in the skin. Though studied intensively, the etiology and pathogenesis of CTCL remain elusive. This study evaluated the survival of CTCL patients in the 1st Department of Dermatovenereology of St. Anne's University Hospital Brno. It included analysis of 19 polymorphic gene variants based on their expected involvement in CTCL severity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

75 patients with CTCL, evaluated and treated at the 1st Department of Dermatovenereology of St. Anne´s University Hospital Brno, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, were recruited for the study over the last 28 years (44 men and 31 women, average age 58 years, range 20-82 years). All patients were genotyped for 19 chosen gene polymorphisms by the conventional PCR method with restriction analysis. A multivariate Cox regression model was calculated to reveal genetic polymorphisms and other risk factors for survival.

RESULTS

The model identified MDR Ex21 2677 (rs2032582) as a significant genetic factor influencing the survival of the patients, with the T-allele playing a protective role. A multivariate stepwise Cox regression model confirmed the following as significant independent risk factors for overall survival: increased age at admission, clinical staging of the tumor, and male sex.

CONCLUSION

We showed that the TT genotype at position 2677 of the MDR1 gene exhibited statistically significant longer survival in CTCL patients. As such, the TT genotype of MDR1 confers a significant advantage for the CTCL patients who respond to treatment.

Computational dose visualization & comparison in total skin electron treatment suggests superior coverage by the rotational versus the Stanford technique

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

The goal of Total Skin Electron Therapy (TSET) is to achieve a uniform surface dose, although assessment of this is never really done and typically limited points are sampled. A computational treatment simulation approach was developed to estimate dose distributions over the body surface, to compare uniformity of (i) the 6 pose Stanford technique and (ii) the rotational technique.

METHODS

The relative angular dose distributions from electron beam irradiation was calculated by Monte Carlo simulation for cylinders with a range of diameters, approximating body part curvatures. These were used to project dose onto a 3D body model of the TSET patient's skin surfaces. Computer animation methods were used to accumulate the dose values, for display and analysis of the homogeneity of coverage.

RESULTS

The rotational technique provided more uniform coverage than the Stanford technique. Anomalies of under dose were observed in lateral abdominal regions, above the shoulders and in the perineum. The Stanford technique had larger areas of low dose laterally. In the rotational technique, 90% of the patient's skin was within ±10% of the prescribed dose, while this percentage decreased to 60% or 85% for the Stanford technique, varying with patient body mass. Interestingly, the highest discrepancy was most apparent in high body mass patients, which can be attributed to the loss of tangent dose at low angles of curvature.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

This simulation and visualization approach is a practical means to analyze TSET dose, requiring only optical surface body topography scans. Under- and over-exposed body regions can be found, and irradiation could be customized to each patient. Dose Area Histogram (DAH) distribution analysis showed the rotational technique to have better uniformity, with most areas within 10% of the umbilicus value. Future use of this approach to analyze dose coverage is possible as a routine planning tool.

Erythrodermic mycosis fungoides with large cell transformation: An unusual and complicated case

Mycosis fungoides is the most common cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. It presents a diagnostic challenge due to resemblance with many other dermatologic conditions. The disease typically follows a progression from patches to plaques to skin-based tumors with potential for visceral involvement. Diagnosis is made by clinical presentation and histology. When early diagnosis is made, there is an estimated 88% five-year survival. This report details a 60-year-old Black man diagnosed with stage IIIA mycosis fungoides with a severe degree of cutaneous involvement. This case is unique due to the aggressive large cell transformation and rapid progression to death within 18 months of diagnosis. We highlight the challenge of diagnosing, treating, and monitoring the therapeutic response of mycosis fungoides. Finally, this case calls for a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment and to include mycosis fungoides on the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with a variety of vague, recurrent cutaneous symptoms, especially with patchy dyspigmentation or plaques.

A Case of Vesicular Mycosis Fungoides

A 44-year-old male presented with 7 months history of nonpruritic round oozing plaques on the extremities and red papules on the trunk. The lesions were resistant to topical and oral steroid prescribed at the other local clinics. Histopathological examination showed parakeratosis with acanthosis and rete ridge elongation as well as spongiotic intraepidermal blisters and dense dermal infiltration of small to medium sized atypical lymphoid cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the lymphocyte infiltrate to be predominantly CD4⁺ T cells, with CD4/CD8 ratio to be greater than 10:1. Infiltration of large cells that were CD30⁺ were also noted. This histopathologic findings are consistent with vesicular mycosis fungoides (MF). He was prescribed with narrow-band ultraviolet B twice per week and topical steroid, combined with interferon-α injection for 5 weeks, and his skin lesions significantly faded and were flattened. Vesicular MF is associated with poor prognosis, but our patient was able to show benign course of disease thanks to timely diagnosis. One must consider vesicular MF as a differential for recalcitrant eczematous lesions.

Diagnostic Outcomes and Treatment Modalities in Patients with Mycosis Fungoides in West Sweden—A Retrospective Register-Based Study

Simple Summary

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a rare and incurable disease, but there are a wide variety of treatment options. Since the condition is rare, only a few studies have been performed on this topic in Sweden. This study contributes to the knowledge of the epidemiological and clinical features and diagnostic findings in addition to the treatment modalities and responses in patients with diagnosed MF and/or followed up for a long period of time in Sweden. The results of this study can be used to improve clinical practice and stimulate future research.

Abstract

(1) Background: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a variant of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features and epidemiological and diagnostic findings in addition to the treatment modalities and responses in patients with MF. Furthermore, comparisons between patients in the early stage and the advanced stage were evaluated. (2) Methods: A retrospective register-based study based on data collected from the primary cutaneous lymphoma register and medical records was performed at the Department of Dermatology and Venerology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. (3) Results: Eighty-four patients with a median age of 55 years with MF were included. Most of the patients (n = 73) were diagnosed at the early stage of the disease (IA–IIA). Overall disease progression was seen in 12.5% (n = 9) of the patients. Nine (10.7%) patients were deceased, out of which four (4.8%) deaths were associated with MF-related causes. (4) Conclusions: This study contributes to the knowledge of the epidemiological and clinical features in addition to the diagnostic findings and treatment responses in patients with MF in Sweden.

Unraveling the Structural Variations of Early-Stage Mycosis Fungoides-CD3 Based Purification and Third Generation Sequencing as Novel Tools for the Genomic Landscape in CTCL

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). At present, knowledge of genetic changes in early-stage MF is insufficient. Additionally, low tumor cell fraction renders calling of copy-number variations as the predominant mutations in MF challenging, thereby impeding further investigations. We show that enrichment of T cells from a biopsy of a stage I MF patient greatly increases tumor fraction. This improvement enables accurate calling of recurrent MF copy-number variants such as ARID1A and CDKN2A deletion and STAT5 amplification, undetected in the unprocessed biopsy. Furthermore, we demonstrate that application of long-read nanopore sequencing is especially useful for the structural variant rich CTCL. We detect the structural variants underlying recurrent MF copy-number variants and show phasing of multiple breakpoints into complex structural variant haplotypes. Additionally, we record multiple occurrences of templated insertion structural variants in this sample. Taken together, this study suggests a workflow to make the early stages of MF accessible for genetic analysis, and indicates long-read sequencing as a major tool for genetic analysis for MF.

Chlormethine Gel for Patients with Mycosis Fungoides Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma: A Review of Efficacy and Safety in Clinical Trial and Real-World Settings

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a rare disease and is the most common form of cutaneous T cell lymphoma. Topical chlormethine (CL) gel is the first cytotoxic chemotherapy gel that was specifically developed for treatment of MF. In this review, we provide an overview of all available data on the use of CL gel for treatment of patients with MF. On the basis of the current data collected, CL gel is highly effective, with good response rates observed both in clinical trial and real-world settings. While the gel is approved for monotherapy, it is also used in combination with concomitant skin-directed or systemic therapies in clinical practice. Responses to CL gel treatment can be rapid, but they also frequently occur with a delayed onset of up to 6 months. This indicates that continued treatment with CL gel is important. CL gel has a manageable safety profile, with most adverse events being mild and skin related. Contact dermatitis is one of the more common skin-related adverse events to occur with CL gel treatment that can potentially lead to treatment discontinuation. The data from the literature indicate that patients being treated with CL gel should be monitored carefully, and that dermatitis must be managed effectively to allow patients to continue treatment and achieve the best possible response to treatment.

Genetic alterations and oxidative stress in T cell lymphomas

T cell lymphomas encompass a diverse group of Non-Hodgkin lymphomas with a wide spectrum of clinical, immunological and pathological manifestations. In the last two decades there has been a progress in our understanding of the cell of origin, genetic abnormalities and their impact on behaviour in T cell lymphomas. Genetic alterations are one of the critical drivers of the pathogenesis of T cell lymphoma. Disease progression has been correlated with multiple genetic abnormalities where malignant clones arise primarily out of the host immune surveillance arsenal. There are many cellular processes involved in disease development, and some of them are T cell signaling, differentiation, epigenetic modifications, and immune regulation. Modulation of these crucial pathways via genetic mutations and chromosomal abnormalities possessing either point or copy number mutations helps tumor cells to develop a niche favourable for their growth via metabolic alterations. Several metabolic pathways especially regulation of redox homeostasis is critical in pathogenesis of lymphoma. Disruption of redox potential and induction of oxidative stress renders malignant cells vulnerable to mitochondrial damage and triggers apoptotic pathways causing cell death. Targeting genetic abnormalities and oxidative stress along with current treatment regime have the potential for improved therapeutics and presents new combination approaches towards selective treatment of T cell lymphomas.

Chlormethin-Gel zur Behandlung der Mycosis fungoides: Ein Expertenkonsens aus Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz (DACH-Region) zum Therapiemanagement

HINTERGRUND

Chlormethin-Gel ist in Europa zur Therapie von Patienten mit Mycosis fungoides in allen Krankheitsstadien zugelassen. Die optimalen Behandlungsregime hinsichtlich Frequenz, Dosierung, Kombinations- oder Erhaltungstherapien sind noch nicht vollständig etabliert.

METHODIK

Zehn in der Erforschung und Behandlung kutaner T-Zell-Lymphome erfahrene Experten aus Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz (DACH-Region) wurden schriftlich zu Indikation, Anwendungsfrequenz, Beurteilung des Therapieerfolgs, Begleittherapie, Nebenwirkungen, Kombinationstherapien in späteren Krankheitsstadien, Erhaltungstherapie und Adhärenz im Rahmen der Therapie der Mycosis fungoides mit Chlormethin-Gel befragt. Die strukturiert aufbereiteten Ergebnisse der Umfrage wurden in einer Konsensuskonferenz diskutiert und Empfehlungen zum Management der Therapie mit Chlormethin-Gel entwickelt.

ERGEBNISSE

Wesentlich für die Therapie mit Chlormethin-Gel ist ein individuelles, symptomorientiertes Therapiemanagement. Systemische Nebenwirkungen des Wirkstoffs sind wegen der fehlenden systemischen Verfügbarkeit bei topischer Anwendung unwahrscheinlich. Die häufig auftretende allergische oder irritativ-toxische Kontaktdermatitis kann durch eine Anpassung des Therapieregimes, Therapiepausen sowie nebenwirkungsspezifische und unterstützende Maßnahmen häufig beherrscht werden. Ein einschleichender Therapiebeginn mit Anwendung von Chlormethin-Gel jeden zweiten Tag kann die Tolerabilität wesentlich verbessern, insbesondere wenn die Therapie alternierend mit topischen Kortikosteroiden erfolgt.

SCHLUSSFOLGERUNGEN

Die Anwendung von Chlormethin-Gel bei Mycosis fungoides wird durch die begleitende Kontaktdermatitis häufig eingeschränkt. Mit einem geeigneten Therapie- und Nebenwirkungsmanagement können vermeidbare Therapieabbrüche verhindert werden und mehr Patienten von der Therapie profitieren.

Epidemiological Characteristics and the Development of Prognostic Nomograms of Patients With HIV-Associated Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Background

The incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma (HIV-associated CTCL) is very low, and there is a lack of relevant epidemiological and clinical prognostic studies. Therefore, we aimed to study the epidemiological characteristics of HIV-associated CTCL and to construct and validate a nomogram predicting patient survival.

Methods

Demographic, clinical characteristics, and incidence data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database were screened for patients with HIV-associated CTCL. Independent prognostic factors in patients with HIV-associated CTCL were analyzed to establish nomograms of overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates of patients. The performance of the prediction model was validated by the consistency index (C-index), the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and calibration plots.

Results

A total of 883 eligible patients were screened for inclusion in this study and randomized to the training cohort (70%, n = 619) and the validation cohort (30%, n = 264). The age-adjusted average incidence rate per 100,000 persons per year for HIV-associated CTCL was 0.071 for the period 2004-2017, with an increasing incidence rate. The median age of the included patients was 59 years, of which male Caucasian held a majority. 99.5% of the patients had a tumor tissue subtype of mycosis fungoides, while the other tumor subtypes were sézary syndrome. The median OS for patients with HIV-associated CTCL was 162 months, and the OS rates at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years were 0.964, 0.904, 0.835, and 0.766, respectively. Univariate and multivariate COX regression analysis were performed, and prognostic indicators such as "Age", "Radiation", "Chemotherapy", "Summary stage", "Sequence number" were ultimately incorporated and used to establish nomograms of OS and DSS rates at 1, 3, 5 and 10 years for the training cohort. The C-index, AUC, and calibration plot confirmed that our prediction model had good accuracy.

Conclusion

While HIV-associated CTCL is very rare, its incidence has been on the rise in the last decade or so. We described the epidemiological characteristics and prognostic factors in patients with HIV-associated CTCL.

Malignant T Cell Activation by a Bacillus Species Isolated from Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Lesions

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a life-debilitating malignancy of lymphocytes homing to the skin. Although CTCL is thought to arise from a combination of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, specific triggers are unclear. The skin is colonized by a unique microbiota and is heavily influenced by its interactions. We hypothesized that adaptive immune responses to skin commensals lead to clonal T-cell proliferation and transformation in the appropriate genetic background. We therefore collected lesional and nonlesional skin microbiota from patients with CTCL to study T cell interactions using skin T cell explants and peripheral, skin-homing CD4+ T cells. By various methods, we identified Bacillus safensis in CTCL lesions, a rare human commensal in healthy skin, and showed that it can induce malignant T cell activation and cytokine secretion. Taken together, our data suggest microbial triggers in the skin microbiota of patients with CTCL as potential instigators of tumorigenesis.

Combination of Resminostat with Ruxolitinib Exerts Antitumor Effects in the Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane Model for Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma

Simple Summary

The combination of Resminostat (HDACi) and Ruxolitinib (JAKi) exerted cytotoxic effects and inhibited proliferation of CTCL cell lines (MyLa, SeAx) in vitro. The aim of the present study was to validate their antitumor effects in vivo using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model, which allows quick and efficient monitoring of tumor growth, migration, invasion, and metastatic potential. The drug combination exhibited a significant inhibition of primary tumor size, and inhibited intravasation and extravasation of tumor cells to the liver and lung. It also exerted an inhibitory effect in the migration and invasion of tumor cells and significantly reduced key signaling pathway activation. Our data demonstrate that the CAM assay could be employed as a preclinical in vivo model in CTCL for pharmacological testing, and that the combination of Resminostat and Ruxolitinib exerts significant antitumor effects in CTCL progression that need to be further evaluated in a clinical setting.

Abstract

The combination of Resminostat (HDACi) and Ruxolitinib (JAKi) exerted cytotoxic effects and inhibited proliferation of CTCL cell lines (MyLa, SeAx) in previously published work. A xenograft tumor formation was produced by implanting the MyLa or SeAx cells on top of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). The CAM assay protocol was developed to monitor the metastatic properties of CTCL cells and the effects of Resminostat and/or Ruxolitinib in vivo. In the spontaneous CAM assays, Resminostat and Ruxolitinib treatment inhibited the cell proliferation (p < 0.001) of MyLa and SeAx, and induced cell apoptosis (p < 0.005, p < 0.001, respectively). Although monotherapies reduced the size of primary tumors in the metastasis CAM assay, the drug combination exhibited a significant inhibition of primary tumor size (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, the combined treatment inhibited the intravasation of MyLa (p < 0.005) and SeAx cells (p < 0.0001) in the organs, as well as their extravasation to the liver (p < 0.0001) and lung (p < 0.0001). The drug combination also exerted a stronger inhibitory effect in migration (p < 0.0001) rather in invasion (p < 0.005) of both MyLa and SeAx cells. It further reduced p-p38, p-ERK, p-AKT, and p-STAT in MyLa cells, while it decreased p-ERK and p-STAT in SeAx cells in CAM tumors. Our data demonstrated that the CAM assay could be employed as a preclinical in vivo model in CTCL for pharmacological testing. In agreement with previous in vitro data, the combination of Resminostat and Ruxolitinib was shown to exert antitumor effects in CTCL in vivo.

Clinical Patterns and Treatment Response of Patients With Mycosis Fungoides a Retrospective Study

Background

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is one of the primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas and is considered to be the most common extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas. MF is characterized by different subtypes based on clinical presentation and immunophenotyping studies. We aimed to study the clinical patterns and treatment response in cases of MF among the patients attending a tertiary referral hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Methodology

A retrospective study, case record-based study was done to review all the patients diagnosed with MF from January 2011 to May 2016. All cases with histopathological confirmation and immunophenotyping were included in the study. Treatment follow-up was reviewed for 9 months in all cases. Treatment response was graded based on a global physician assessment-complete response, good response, moderate response, and minimal or no response.

Results

Out of 34 cases of MF included in the study, 11 were hyperpigmented MF, 21 were hypopigmented MF, and there was one case each of poikilodermatous MF and pagetoid reticulosis. Of the total, fourteen (66.7%) of hypopigmented MF patients showed a complete response to phototherapy Narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) in combination with topical corticosteroids. Nine (81.8%) of hyperpigmented MF patients showed partial to the phototherapy NB-UVB in combination with the topical corticosteroid. Among the other types; one case of poikilodermatous MF (2.9%) showed a moderate response to phototherapy NB-UVB with topical corticosteroid and systemic acitretin.

Conclusions

The most common type of MF seen in our study was the hypopigmented type, affecting a younger age group, and the same showed a good response to phototherapy NB-UVB combined with topical corticosteroids.

Extracorporeal photopheresis and multimodality therapy in patients with T-cell cutaneous lymphomas: Real-life experience in Argentina

BACKGROUND

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) as a part of multimodality therapy, is one of the treatments for Sézary syndrome (SS) and advanced stage mycosis fungoides (MF). This study aims to describe cutaneous and peripheral blood responses of patients with MF and SS who received multimodality therapy.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional retrospective study, patients with MF or SS who received ECP treatment in combination with at least one additional systemic treatment between 2011 and 2018 were included. ECP consisted of a two-session cycle every 2 to 4 weeks. Cutaneous and blood responses were evaluated with updated criteria.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight patients (11 (39%) with MF and 17 (51%) with SS) were included. Their median age at diagnosis was 63 (57-67) years. The median number of treatments before ECP was 2 (1-3). Seven out of 11 patients with MF (63%) underwent an assessment of cutaneous response. Five patients (70%) presented a partial response; 1 (15%), stable disease, and 1 (15%) progressive disease. Thirteen of the 17 patients with SS (76%) underwent evaluation. One patient (8%) presented a complete cutaneous response; 6 (46%), a partial response; 5 (38%), stable disease; and 1 (8%), progressive disease. None of them relapsed during the study period in both groups. No ECP-related adverse effects occurred during the study.

CONCLUSION

Most patients with SS and MF who underwent multimodality therapy with ECP had favorable cutaneous and blood response. It is safe to combine ECP with other treatments. Studies with large numbers of patients are necessary to assess the effects of ECP on patient survival.

NLRP3 Regulates IL-4 Expression in TOX+ CD4+ T Cells of Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma to Potentially Promote Disease Progression

In cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL), a dominant Th2 profile associated with disease progression has been proposed. Moreover, although the production and regulation of IL-4 expression during the early stages of the disease may have important implications in later stages, these processes are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate the presence of TOX+ CD4+ T cells that produce IL-4+ in early-stage skin lesions of CTCL patients and reveal a complex mechanism by which the NLRP3 receptor promotes a Th2 response by controlling IL-4 production. Unassembled NLRP3 is able to translocate to the nucleus of malignant CD4+ T cells, where it binds to the human il-4 promoter. Accordingly, IL-4 expression is decreased by knocking down and increased by promoting the nuclear localization of NLRP3. We describe a positive feedback loop in which IL-4 inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, thereby further increasing its production. IL-4 induced a potentially malignant phenotype measured based on TOX expression and proliferation. This mechanism of IL-4 regulation mediated by NLRP3 is amplified in late-stage CTCL associated with disease progression. These results indicate that NLRP3 might be a key regulator of IL-4 expression in TOX+ CD4+ T cells of CTCL patients and that this mechanism might have important implications in the progression of the disease.

Genome-wide transcriptome analysis of the STAT6-regulated genes in advanced-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

The signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) is a critical up-stream mediator of interleukin-13 (IL-13) and IL-4 signaling and is constitutively activated in malignant lymphocytes from Sezary syndrome (SS) and mycosis fungoides (MF), the most common subtypes of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. By combining genome-wide expression profiling with pharmacological STAT6 inhibition, we have identified the genes regulated by STAT6 in MF/SS tumors. We found that STAT6 regulates several common pathways in MF/SS malignant lymphocytes that are associated with control of cell-cycle progression and genomic stability as well as production of Th2 cytokines. Using ex vivo skin explants from cutaneous MF tumors as well as Sezary cells derived from the blood of SS patients, we demonstrated that inhibition of STAT6 activation downregulates cytokine production and induces cell-cycle arrest in MF/SS malignant lymphocytes, inhibiting their proliferation but not their survival. Furthermore, we show that STAT6 promotes the protumoral M2-like phenotype of tumor-associated macrophages in the tumor microenvironment of advanced stage MF by upregulating the expression of genes associated with immunosuppression, chemotaxis, and tumor matrix remodeling. Thus, we show STAT6 to be a major factor in the pathogenesis and progression of MF/SS, promoting proliferation and invasion of the malignant lymphocytes while inducing a progressive depression of the antitumor immune response. Together, our results provide new insights into disease pathogenesis and offer new prospective targets for therapeutic intervention.

Safety and efficacy profile of mogamulizumab (Poteligeo) in the treatment of cancers: an update evidence from 14 studies

BACKGROUND

CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), the receptor for CCL22 and CCL17, is expressed on the surface of effector Tregs that have the highest suppressive effects on antitumor immune response. CCR4 is also widely expressed on the surface of tumor cells from patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Mogamulizumab is a humanized, IgG1 kappa monoclonal antibody that is directed against CCR4. By reducing the number of CCR4-positive Tregs and tumor cells, the mogamulizumab can reduce tumor burden and boost antitumor immunity to achieve antitumor effects.

METHODS

We examined the PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov until 1 February 2020. Considering variability in different studies, we selected the adverse events (AEs), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective responses rate (ORR) and Hazard Ratio (HR) for PFS to evaluate the safety and efficacy profile of mogamulizumab.

RESULTS

When patients were treated with mogamulizumab monotherapy, the most common all-grade AEs were lymphopenia, infusion reaction, fever, rash and chills while the most common grade ≥ 3 AEs were lymphopenia, neutropenia and rash. When patients were treated with combined therapy of mogamulizumab and other drugs, the most common all-grade AEs were neutropenia, anaemia, lymphopenia and gastrointestinal disorder, while the most common grade ≥ 3 AEs was lymphopenia. For patients treated with mogamulizumab monotherapy, the pooled ORR and mean PFS were 0.430 (95% CI: 0.393-0.469) and 1.060 months (95% CI: 1.043-1.077), respectively. For patients treated with combined therapy of mogamulizumab and other drugs, the pooled ORR was 0.203 (95% CI: 0.022-0.746) while the pooled PFS and OS were 2.093 months (95% CI: 1.602-2.584) and 6.591 months (95% CI: 6.014-7.167), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on present evidence, we believed that mogamulizumab had clinically meaningful antitumor activity with acceptable toxicity which is a novel therapy in treating patients with cancers.

CCR4 in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: Therapeutic targeting of a pathogenic driver

New treatments are needed for patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), particularly for advanced mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome (SS). The immunopathology of MF and SS is complex, but recent advances in tumor microenvironment understanding have identified CCR4 as a promising therapeutic target. CCR4 is widely expressed on malignant T cells and Tregs in the skin and peripheral blood of patients with MF and SS. The interaction of CCR4 with its dominant ligands CCL17 and CCL22 plays a critical role in the development and progression of CTCL, facilitating the movement into, and accumulation of, CCR4-expressing T cells in the skin, and recruiting CCR4-expressing Tregs into the tumor microenvironment. Expression of CCR4 is upregulated at all stages of MF and in SS, increasing with advancing disease. Several CCR4-targeted therapies are being evaluated, including "chemotoxins" targeting CCR4 via CCL17, CCR4-directed chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cell therapies, small-molecule CCR4 antagonists, and anti-CCR4 monoclonal antibodies. Only one is currently approved: mogamulizumab, a defucosylated, fully humanized, anti-CCR4, monoclonal antibody for the treatment of relapsed/refractory MF and SS. Clinical trial da1ta confirm that mogamulizumab is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for relapsed/refractory MF or SS, demonstrating the clinical value of targeting CCR4.

Secondary Cardiac T-Cell Lymphoma Presenting with Syncope and Refractory Complete Atrioventricular Block: A Case Report

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas constitute a rare category of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, which may involve the heart in the timeline of their natural course as an infrequent picture with a poor prognosis. Syncope, either due to outflow obstruction or conduction block, is also an uncommon presentation of cardiac metastasis. We herein describe a 35-year-old man, who presented with weight loss, dyspnea of 6 months’ duration, an indolent skin ulcer in the left flank, lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and recurrent syncope. He underwent implantation of a permanent pacemaker due to a complete heart block and received anticoagulants for the DVT. Skin biopsy demonstrated a T-cell lymphoma. The syncopal episodes ceased thereafter. Echocardiography and computed tomography scan revealed cardiac metastasis, which responded to systemic chemotherapy. In the first follow-up visit after 3 months, he was still pacemaker-dependent. However, the DVT was partially resolved, and the symptoms had disappeared.

Erythrodermic CD4/CD8 Double-Negative Mycosis Fungoides: A Case Report

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) describes a group of lymphoproliferative disorders characterized by localization of neoplastic T lymphocytes to the skin. Mycosis fungoides (MF) represents the most common type of CTCL and accounts for ∼60% of all primary cutaneous lymphomas. Apart from the classic type of MF, many clinical and histopathologic variants have been described. The malignant lymphocytes in MF are usually CD3, CD4 and CD45RO positive and CD8 negative. An unusual immunohistochemical profile of a CD4-negative and CD8-positive mature T-cell phenotype has been reported in a minority of patients; up to 20% of early-stage MF demonstrates a CD8-positive phenotype. There are only a few cases of a double-negative CD4/CD8 MF phenotype reported in the literature. We present the case of a 60-year-old male presenting a double-negative CD4/CD8 MF phenotype.