title: Pentostatin therapy of T-cell lymphomas with cutaneous manifestations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the side effects of and response to pentostatin in patients with T-cell lymphomas with cutaneous manifestations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pentostatin was administered to 28 patients who had relapsed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma or peripheral T-cell lymphoma with prominent cutaneous disease. The starting dose was between 3.75 to 5.0 mg/m(2)/d intravenous for 3 days every 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 24 patients assessable for response, 17 (71%) achieved a partial remission (46%) or complete remission (25%). The patients had a median number of three (range, one to 12) prior therapies. Of the 86 courses of pentostatin given, 39 were administered at doses of 5.0 mg/m(2)/d and 30 at doses of 3. 75 mg/m(2)/d. Dose escalation to 6.25 mg/m(2)/d was possible in only five courses, and toxicity necessitated dose reduction to 2.8 mg/m(2)/d in 12 courses. The most common side effects were granulocytopenia, nausea, and nonneutropenic fever. Most patients developed significant lowering of CD4 counts. Herpes zoster was seen within 1 year after pentostatin in five patients (19%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pentostatin is an active agent in heavily pretreated T-cell lymphomas with cutaneous manifestations.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Bioimmunotherapy and Medical Specialties, University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurzrock
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pilat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duvic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015649:Pentostatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D015649:Pentostatin