Gautschi O, Blumenthal N, Streit M, Solenthaler M, Hunziker T, Zenhäusern R. Successful treatment of chemotherapy-refractory Sézary syndrome with alemtuzumab (Campath-1H).
Eur J Haematol 2003;
72:61-3. [PMID:
14962265 DOI:
10.1046/j.0902-4441.2004.00169.x]
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Sézary syndrome (SS) is a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma characterized by erythroderma, lymphadenopathy and circulating atypical T cells. Median survival after diagnosis is 10 yr, with chemotherapy resistance being a major problem in advanced disease. Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) is a monoclonal antibody directed against the lymphocytic antigen CD52, expressed on B- and T-cells. Alemtuzumab is approved for relapsing chronic B-cell leukemia and seems to be active also in T-cell lymphomas such as T-cell prolymphocytic lymphoma, SS and mycosis fungiodes.
CASE HISTORY
A 32-yr-old male patient presented with advanced stage, extensively pretreated SS with heavily itching erythroderma, peripheral lymphadenopathy, circulating Sézary cells and bone marrow infiltration. The disease had not responded to PUVA/interferon-alpha and progressed on chemotherapy with CHOP, 2-CDA, vinorelbine, etoposide and liposomal doxorubicin. Following treatment with alemtuzumab (30 mg i.v. three times per week for 10 wk), itching resolved rapidly and an almost complete remission was achieved within 3 months after starting this treatment. At 12-month follow up, no disease progression was present.
CONCLUSION
In accordance with previous data, this single case underlines the potent activity of alemtuzumab in advanced, chemotherapy-refractory SS.
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