Long-term control of mycosis fungoides of the hands with topical bexarotene.
BACKGROUND
Limited Stage IA mycosis fungoides (MF) is often treated with topical steroids, which can cause atrophy, or with nitrogen mustard, which imposes several limitations on the patient's lifestyle. Topical bexarotene is a novel synthetic rexinoid with few side-effects that has shown efficacy for treatment of mycosis fungoides skin lesions in recent Phase II-III clinical trials. The Phase I-II trial involving 67 stage IA-IIA MF patients demonstrated complete response (CR) in 21% and partial response (PR) in 42% of the patients. The median time to response was approximately 20 weeks. In the phase III trial of refractory stage IA, IB and IIA MF, the patients demonstrated a 44% response rate (8% CR). Patients with no prior therapy for mycosis fungoides responded at a higher rate (75%) than those with prior topical therapies.


METHODS
Case report of a patient with MF limited to the hands treated with topical bexarotene 0.1% gel in a open label phase II clinical trial.


RESULTS
Partial response occurred after 2 weeks of topical bexarotene therapy and the lesions were well controlled for 5 years using bexarotene monotherapy, with only occasional mild local irritation.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical bexarotene is effective as long-term treatment monotherapy for limited MF lesions. To our knowledge this is the longest use of the drug by any individual.
Lain
Ted
T
Division of Internal Medical Specialties, Department of Dermatology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Talpur
Rakhshandra
R
Duvic
Madeleine
M
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077610:Bexarotene; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D000077610:Bexarotene