title: Bexarotene and narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy combination treatment for mycosis fungoides.
abstract: Combination therapy for mycosis fungoides (MF) has the potential to be synergistic, improve therapeutic efficacy and reduce toxicities. We present a patient with MF who improved on combination therapy with bexarotene and narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) therapy. The patient is an 81-year-old Caucasian male who initially presented with stage IB MF. After temporary improvement with NB-UVB phototherapy, he progressed to develop plaques and tumors. Psoralen and ultraviolet A therapy was contraindicated because of ophthalmologic disease. Addition of bexarotene 300 mg daily led to rapid clinical improvement in combination with NB-UVB. Interruption of NB-UVB during a prolonged hospitalization led to a clinical flare of lesions, despite continued treatment with bexarotene. Reinitiating NB-UVB was associated with clinical improvement. This report demonstrates that combination treatment with oral bexarotene and NB-UVB therapy may represent a safe alternative for the treatment of plaque-stage MF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
authors.forename: Michele L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lokitz
authors.forename: Henry K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000077610:Bexarotene; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
chemical_list: D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D000077610:Bexarotene