Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome): Part II. Prognosis, management, and future directions Journal Article


Authors: Jawed, S. I.; Myskowski, P. L.; Horwitz, S.; Moskowitz, A.; Querfeld, C.
Article Title: Primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome): Part II. Prognosis, management, and future directions
Abstract: Both mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) have a chronic, relapsing course, with patients frequently undergoing multiple, consecutive therapies. Treatment is aimed at the clearance of skin disease, the minimization of recurrence, the prevention of disease progression, and the preservation of quality of life. Other important considerations are symptom severity, including pruritus and patient age/comorbidities. In general, for limited patch and plaque disease, patients have excellent prognosis on ≥1 topical formulations, including topical corticosteroids and nitrogen mustard, with widespread patch/plaque disease often requiring phototherapy. In refractory early stage MF, transformed MF, and folliculotropic MF, a combination of skin-directed therapy plus low-dose immunomodulators (eg, interferon or bexarotene) may be effective. Patients with advanced and erythrodermic MF/SS can have profound immunosuppression, with treatments targeting tumor cells aimed for immune reconstitution. Biologic agents or targeted therapies either alone or in combination - including immunomodulators and histone-deacetylase inhibitors - are tried first, with more immunosuppressive therapies, such as alemtuzumab or chemotherapy, being generally reserved for refractory or rapidly progressive disease or extensive lymph node and metastatic involvement. Recently, an increased understanding of the pathogenesis of MF and SS with identification of important molecular markers has led to the development of new targeted therapies that are currently being explored in clinical trials in advanced MF and SS. © 2013 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.
Keywords: staging; cutaneous t-cell lymphoma; mycosis fungoides; targeted therapies; immunomodulators; sezary syndrome; phototherapy; prognosis; skin-directed treatment; systemic treatment; topical corticosteroids; topical nitrogen mustard; topical retinoids/rexinoids
Journal Title: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Volume: 70
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0190-9622
Publisher: Mosby Elsevier  
Date Published: 2014-02-01
Start Page: 223.e1
End Page: 223.e17
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.08.033
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 24438970
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 3 March 2014 -- CODEN: JAADD -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Steven M Horwitz
    645 Horwitz
  2. Alison Moskowitz
    339 Moskowitz
  3. Patricia Myskowski
    216 Myskowski
  4. Sarah J Noor
    41 Noor