Photopheresis for the treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphoma.
We investigated the use of extracorporeal chemotherapy (photopheresis) in eight patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma. Initially described by Edelson et al. for the treatment of erythrodermic cutaneous T cell lymphoma, we have expanded the treatment to include patients with extensive patch/plaque disease as well as tumor-stage disease. Four of five patients with erythrodermic stage disease had either a complete or a partial clinical remission with photopheresis alone. One patient with extensive patch/plaque disease continued to have a partial clinical remission of 7 months' duration with photopheresis alone. Of the two patients with tumor-stage disease, one remained without evidence of clinical disease at 10 months with photopheresis alone, whereas the second patient had a partial clinical remission of 5 months with a combination of local radiation therapy followed by monthly photopheresis. The skin biopsy specimen obtained from the patient with tumor-stage disease in complete clinical remission did not show cutaneous T cell lymphoma. We conclude that photopheresis is an effective modality alone or in combination with adjunctive therapy for erythroderma, extensive patch/plaque disease, and some tumor-stage disease.
Armus
S
S
Morristown Memorial Hospital, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, NJ 07960.
Keyes
B
B
Cahill
C
C
Berger
C
C
Crater
D
D
Scarborough
D
D
Klainer
A
A
Bisaccia
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007937:Leukapheresis; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008730:Methoxsalen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D008730:Methoxsalen