title: Photodynamic therapy with methyl-aminolevulinic acid for paucilesional mycosis fungoides: a prospective open study and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Publications reporting photodynamic therapy (PDT) in mycosis fungoides (MF) are rare, involve small samples, and are difficult to compare because of a lack of technical standardization.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to assess PDT effectiveness and tolerability in early-stage MF using a strict reproducible procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective study conducted in Nantes University Hospital, France, including patients older than 18 years with histologically proven MF (stage IA or IB). Methyl-aminolevulinic acid-PDT sessions were repeated monthly for 6 months. Clinical and histologic responses were assessed 1 month after the last session. Patient satisfaction was assessed by telephone survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients (with 29 lesions) were treated with PDT. An objective response in target lesions was obtained in 75% of patients. Response rates were similar between plaques and patches but higher in sun-protected compared with sun-exposed areas (trend without reaching significance). During PDT, new lesions appeared in 5 of 12 patients in untreated areas. Most patients were highly satisfied and preferred PDT to the topical chemotherapy previously used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDT procedure criteria selection was partially arbitrary.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In early-stage MF, PDT is effective and appreciated (especially when compared with conventional topical chemotherapy). Unilesional and paucilesional forms and lesions in sun-protected areas are to be preferred.
authors.affiliation: Skin Cancer Unit, Nantes University Hospital, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Gaelle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quéreux
authors.forename: Anabelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brocard
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saint-Jean
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peuvrel
authors.forename: Anne-Chantal
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Knol
authors.forename: Rémy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Allix
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khammari
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Renaut
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dréno
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid
keywords: CR; EORTC; European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; ISCL; International Society for Cutaneous Lymphomas; MAL; MF; PDT; PR; complete response; cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; methyl-aminolevulinic acid; mycosis fungoides; partial response; photodynamic therapy; prospective study; satisfaction survey