title: Bexarotene and interferon-alpha combination therapy in a patient affected by relapsing anaplastic large cell lymphoma with cutaneous involvement.
abstract: A 74-year-old man presented with relapsing systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) with cutaneous involvement who had a third recurrence of cutaneous lesions associated with inguinal lymphonodes enlargement. Due to severe worsening of general conditions, treatment with low dose bexarotene associated with interferon-aalphawas initiated. Four months later, skin nodules disappeared with reduction of lymphonodes size. Two months after stopping therapy, lymphonodal relapse of the lymphoma was seen; however, cutaneous lesions were still in complete remission. Association of low dose bexarotene with interferon-xalphaseems to represent a possible alternative therapy for relapsing systemic ALCL presenting as prevalent cutaneous involvement in patients with severe worsening of general conditions. In our case, this protocol was unable to maintain a longer disease free survival in comparison with the 2 previous polychemotherapy cycles. Further extended studies are required in order to define the possible rule of this combination therapy in relapsing systemic ALCL.
authors: San Gallicano Dermatological Institute-IRCCS, Rome, Italy. ardigo@ifo.it
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Ardigò
authors: Georgiana Clare
authors: GC
authors: Marulli
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Cota
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Mastroianni
authors: Enzo
authors: E
authors: Berardesca
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000077610:Bexarotene; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D000077610:Bexarotene