Benjamin D. Smith, MD

Personalized cancer care is generally thought of as using molecular information from tumors in order to identify which therapeutic agents will be most effective in a given patient.

Mycosis fungoides (MF), the most common cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, is a low-grade cutaneous lymphoma characterized by skin-homing CD4+ T cells. It is notable for highly symptomatic progressive skin lesions, including patches, plaques, tumors, and erytheroderma, and has a poorer prognosis at later stages. Diagnosis remains difficult owing to MF’s nonspecific skin presentation and identification of the optimal treatment strategy is challenging given the paucity of controlled trials and numerous and emerging treatment options. Management includes topical therapy with the addition of systemic therapy for patients with later-stage disease including tumors; erythroderma; and nodal, visceral, or blood involvement. Topical therapies include mechlorethamine (nitrogen mustard), carmustine (BCNU), steroids, bexarotene gel (Targretin Gel), psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and either localized or total skin electron radiotherapy. Systemic therapies include interferon, retinoids, oral bexarotene (Targretin), denileukin diftitox (Ontak), vorinostat (Zolinza), extracorporeal photochemotherapy (photopheresis), and cytotoxic chemotherapy. Herein, we outline clinically relevant aspects of MF, including clinical presentation, pathology, diagnosis, and staging. We describe in detail existing and emerging therapeutics and offer specific recommendations for management of each stage of MF.

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) collects cancer survival and incidence information from population-based cancer registries, encompassing 26% of the US population.[1]

Mycosis fungoides is a low-grade lymphoproliferative disorder ofskin-homing CD4+ lymphocytes that may produce patches, plaques,tumors, erythroderma, and, ultimately, systemic dissemination. Treatmentselection is generally guided by institutional experience, patientpreference, and toxicity profile, as data from phase III clinical trials arelimited. Effective topical treatments currently include mechlorethamine(Mustargen), carmustine (BCNU, BiCNU), corticosteroids, bexarotene(Targretin, a novel rexinoid), psoralen plus ultraviolet A, ultraviolet B,and total-skin electron-beam radiotherapy. Effective systemic treatmentsinclude interferon, retinoids, bexarotene, denileukin diftitox(Ontak), extracorporeal photopheresis, chemotherapy, and high-dosechemotherapy with allogeneic bone marrow transplant. Each of thesetreatments is discussed in detail, followed by specific recommendationsfor each stage of mycosis fungoides.