title: Lack of apoptosis of Sézary cells in the circulation following oral bexarotene therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apoptosis of malignant cells has been suggested as an important mechanism of the action of bexarotene in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to examine the in vivo and in vitro responses of patients with Sézary syndrome treated with oral bexarotene and assess them for apoptosis of the Sézary cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients with CTCL with circulating Sézary cells, participating in a clinical trial of oral bexarotene (300 mg m(-2) daily) were included in the study. Peripheral blood from the patients was analysed for in vivo and in vitro apoptosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the six patients demonstrated in vivo apoptosis. In vitro apoptosis of Sézary cells was demonstrated in one patient following exogenous bexarotene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apoptosis is not detectable in the circulation of patients with Sézary syndrome treated with bexarotene.
authors.affiliation: Division of Haematology and Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brennand
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biagi
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Trapani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Westerman
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Prince
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis; D000077610:Bexarotene; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D000077610:Bexarotene