title: Alemtuzumab in Sézary syndrome: efficient but not innocent.
abstract: Mycosis fungoides is the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. The related Sézary syndrome is a more aggressive form in which the skin is diffusely affected and the peripheral blood is involved. Although easily managed during its early phases, late-stage mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome is usually difficult to treat and becomes refractory to chemotherapy. Recently, promising case-based results have been obtained with alemtuzumab, a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that binds to CD52 cell surface antigens, in the treatment of advanced stage mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome. We report a case of Sézary syndrome treated successfully with alemtuzumab but who died of treatment-related infection.
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, 34300, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Umit Barbaros
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Ure
authors.forename: Muhlis Cem
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ar
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salihoglu
authors.forename: Sebnem Izmir
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Guner
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baran
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oguz
authors.forename: Burhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ferhanoglu
mesh_terms: D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000074301:CD52 Antigen; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000074301:CD52 Antigen; C000613862:CD52 protein, human; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D000074323:Alemtuzumab