title: Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. New immunomodulators.
abstract: During the most recent decades, much knowledge has been gained concerning the immunologic and pathologic mechanisms of CTCL. The development of immunomodulators aimed at correcting aberrations in immunology and cellular growth and differentiation reflects this increased understanding. This review of the currently available immune-response modifying drugs shows that recombinant forms of natural cytokines and retinoids can be developed with tolerable toxicity profiles and substantial efficacy. Although milestone drugs such as bexarotene have been approved by the FDA- for treatment of CTCL, other agents such as IL-12 may also have a place in treatment of the disease. Even though unapproved, IFN-alpha may be the most active single immunomodulating agent against CTCL. It seems that further delineation of CTCL cytokine profile changes and immunologic aberrations are key in developing effective immunomodulators that are able to reverse these alterations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Dermatology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Apisarnthanarax
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duvic
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011506:Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012176:Retinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D011506:Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012176:Retinoids; C078456:denileukin diftitox; D007372:Interferons