Mycosis Fungoides and Variants of Mycosis Fungoides: A Retrospective Study of 93 Patients in a Chinese Population at a Single Center

Prognostic Factors and Survival Outcomes Among Patients With Mycosis Fungoides in China: A 12-Year Review

Importance

There are limited prognostic statistics and data available on survival outcomes for patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) in Asia.

Objective

To determine the prognostic factors and survival outcomes of patients with MF among a cohort in China.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with MF who received treatment at a tertiary referral center for skin lymphoma (Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China) from August 1, 2009, to August 31, 2021. Data were analyzed from September 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free survival (PFS); for prognostic factors, hazard ratios (HRs), and adjusted HRs (aHRs; adjusted for sex, age, and overall TNMB [tumor, node, metastasis, blood] stage) determined using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

The study cohort comprised 461 patients with MF (median [range] age at diagnosis, 46 [5-87] years; 275 [59.7%] men and 186 [40.3%] women; 461 [100%] Chinese). The overall 5-year rate was 82.2% for OS, 83.5% for DSS, and 79.6% for PFS. Stage-specific 5-year OS rates were 95.7% for stage IA, 93.2% for IB, 95.7% for IIA, 70.1% for IIB, 55.3% for III, and 23.6% for IV. Compared with a UK cohort, our Chinese cohort had a younger median age at diagnosis (46 years vs 54 years) and a more favorable 5-year OS (82.2% vs 75.0%); however, after adjusting for age, the discrepancy in the 5-year OS rate was diminished (77.3% vs 76.4%). Cox models revealed that unfavorable predictors of OS, PFS, and DSS, respectively, were: age older than 60 years (aHR [95% CI], 2.25 [1.28-3.96]; 2.09 [1.16-3.76]; 2.27 [1.39-3.72]); advanced TNMB stage; advanced overall stage; large-cell transformation (aHR [95% CI], 2.16 [1.17-3.99]; 2.29 [1.21-4.33]; 2.21 [1.26-3.86]); and elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels (aHR [95% CI], 3.92 [1.64-9.36]; 4.77 [1.86-12.22]; 5.05 [2.23-11.42]). Biological sex and plaque lesion type were not associated with prognosis among this study cohort.

Conclusion and Relevance

The findings of this retrospective cohort study of patients with MF in China suggest that Asian patients are diagnosed at a younger age and have a higher 5-year OS compared with patients of other races in studies in other countries (predominantly White). Prognostic factors were similar to those of previous studies, except for patient sex and plaque lesion type.

The PI3K-Akt-mTOR and Associated Signaling Pathways as Molecular Drivers of Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Skin Diseases: Update on Therapeutic Strategy Using Natural and Synthetic Compounds

The dysregulated phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway has been implicated in various immune-mediated inflammatory and hyperproliferative dermatoses such as acne, atopic dermatitis, alopecia, psoriasis, wounds, and vitiligo, and is associated with poor treatment outcomes. Improved comprehension of the consequences of the dysregulated PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in patients with inflammatory dermatoses has resulted in the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Nonetheless, more studies are necessary to validate the regulatory role of this pathway and to create more effective preventive and treatment methods for a wide range of inflammatory skin diseases. Several studies have revealed that certain natural products and synthetic compounds can obstruct the expression/activity of PI3K/Akt/mTOR, underscoring their potential in managing common and persistent skin inflammatory disorders. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the role of the activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and associated components in immune-mediated inflammatory dermatoses and discusses the potential of bioactive natural products, synthetic scaffolds, and biologic agents in their prevention and treatment. However, further research is necessary to validate the regulatory role of this pathway and develop more effective therapies for inflammatory skin disorders.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes of patients with mycosis fungoides: A single tertiary center retrospective analysis in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES

To determine the distinctive clinical and pathological characteristics and outcomes of MF in a Saudi population.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of all MF cases diagnosed clinically with pathological confirmation at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh from January 2016 to July 2022. Variables include demographical, clinical, and pathological MF traits and disease outcomes.

RESULTS

A sum of 73 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 44 years. The female-to-male ratio was 1.3:1.The mean duration between cutaneous manifestations and MF diagnosis was 33 months (2.7 years). Classic MF was the most common variant (60.3%), followed by hypopigmented MF (20.5%). Most patients (82.2%) had early-stage MF (IA, IB, and IIA). Patients who had CD4+/CD8+ with CD8 predominance had a favorable disease course (p=0.029). Topical corticosteroids were the most frequently prescribed treatment (79.5%). Three patients (4.1%) died from MF. The disease-specific survival rate for advanced-stage MF was 84.6%, which was significantly lower compared to early-stage MF (p=0.032).

CONCLUSION

Among the Saudi population, MF has an earlier onset and slightly higher prevalence in females. Hypopigmented MF is more prevalent in this ethnic group. Immunohistochemical staining of CD4+/CD8+ with CD8 predominance may elucidate a favorable disease course.

Variations in genetics, biology, and phenotype of cutaneous disorders in skin of color - Part I: Genetic, biologic, and structural differences in skin of color

Skin of color (SOC) populations include those who identify as Black/African, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Native Alaskan, Indigenous Australian, Middle Eastern, biracial/multiracial, or non-White; this list is far from exhaustive and may vary between and within cultures. Recent genetic and immunological studies have suggested that cutaneous inflammatory disorders (atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and hidradenitis suppurativa) and malignancies (melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma) may have variations in their immunophenotype among SOC. Additionally, there is growing recognition of the substantial role social determinants of health play in driving health inequalities in SOC communities. It is critically important to understand that social determinants of health often play a larger role than biologic or genetic factors attributed to "race" in health care outcomes. Herein, we describe the structural, genetic, and immunological variations and the potential implications of these variations in populations with SOC. This article underscores the importance of increasing the number of large, robust genetic studies of cutaneous disorders in SOC to create more targeted, effective therapies for this often underserved and understudied population. Part II of this CME will highlight the clinical differences in the phenotypic presentation of and the health disparities associated with the aforementioned cutaneous disorders in SOC.

Mycosis Fungoides in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Importance

Comprehensive data on childhood mycosis fungoides (MF) is scarce.

Objective

To describe clinical features, immunophenotypes, various treatment options, and prognosis of MF in children and adolescents.

Evidence Review

This systematic review searched MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus databases in October 2019. The search terms included mycosis fungoides, infant, children, and adolescent. No filter for the publication period was used, but studies written in a language other than English were excluded. Reference lists of the relevant articles were also searched manually. Case series and case reports were included if data on childhood MF were extractable. The Asan Medical Center database for cases of childhood MF was also searched. Patients were treated from January 1, 1990, to July 31, 2019, and were younger than 20 years at the time of diagnosis. The methodologic quality of the included studies was assessed with items from the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Data were analyzed from December 9, 2019, to September 4, 2020.

Findings

A total of 571 unique patients were included. The mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 12.2 (4.2) years; at onset, 8.6 (4.2) years. The female-to-male ratio was 1:1.6 (350 male patients [61.3%]). Among 522 patients with data available at diagnosis, stage 1 disease constituted 478 cases (91.6%), followed by stage 2 (39 [7.5%]) and stage 4 (5 [1.0%]). Among the 567 patients with data available, the most common variant of MF was the hypopigmented form (309 [54.5%]), followed by classic MF (187 [33.0%]). The MF lesions were predominantly the CD4+ and CD8+ immunophenotype in 99 (49.5%) and 79 (39.5%) of 200 patients, respectively. Among the treatments, narrowband UV-B was the most frequently used (150 of 426 [35.2%]). Most patients were alive with the disease (185 of 279 [66.3%]); 83 of 279 (29.8%) were in complete remission; and 11 of 279 (3.9%) had died by the last follow-up. A longer time from onset to diagnosis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.24; 95% CI, 1.06-1.45), granulomatous slack skin (HR, 12.25; 95% CI, 1.99-75.26), granulomatous MF (HR, 14.59; 95% CI, 1.31-162.00), a history of organ transplant (HR, 10.15; 95% CI, 0.98-105.37), and stage 2 disease at the time of diagnosis (HR, 10.22; 95% CI, 2.94-35.50) were associated with worse outcomes.

Conclusions and Relevance

The findings of this review suggest that there is often a significant delay until the establishment of a correct diagnosis of childhood MF, which may be detrimental to the prognosis.

Evaluation of Melanocyte Loss in Mycosis Fungoides Using SOX10 Immunohistochemistry

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a subtype of primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) with an indolent course that rarely progresses. Histologically, the lesions display a superficial lymphocytic infiltrate with epidermotropism of neoplastic T-cells. Hypopigmented MF is a rare variant that presents with hypopigmented lesions and is more likely to affect young patients. The etiology of the hypopigmentation is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess melanocyte loss in MF through immunohistochemistry (IHC) with SOX10. Twenty cases were evaluated, including seven of the hypopigmented subtype. The neoplastic epidermotropic infiltrate consisted predominantly of CD4+ T-cells in 65% of cases; CD8+ T-cells were present in moderate to abundant numbers in most cases. SOX10 IHC showed a decrease or focal complete loss of melanocytes in 50% of the cases. The predominant neoplastic cell type (CD4+/CD8+), age, race, gender, histologic features, and reported clinical pigmentation of the lesions were not predictive of melanocyte loss. A significant loss of melanocytes was observed in 43% of hypopigmented cases and 54% of conventional cases. Additional studies will increase our understanding of the relationship between observed pigmentation and the loss of melanocytes in MF.