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Prognostic factors and evaluation of mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Staging evaluations of patients with mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are performed to individualize therapy and to predict survival. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the prognostic factors in patients with MF and SS. METHODS: A retrospective study of 101 patients was performed. For inclusion in the study, patients had to have been evaluated for MF or SS within 6 months of the initial definitive histologic diagnosis. The evaluation included physical examination, chest radiograph, peripheral blood smear, lymph node biopsy, bone marrow biopsy, gallium 67 scan, liver-spleen scan and computed tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. RESULTS: The type of skin disease present at initial diagnosis was a good prognostic indicator of survival and clinical outcome. Univariate adverse prognostic features included hepatosplenomegaly or adenopathy by CT scan, abnormal liver-spleen scan, abnormal gallium scan, adenopathy, and peripheral blood, bone marrow, and lymph node involvement. Independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis were the type of skin involvement as well as peripheral blood and visceral involvement. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms previous reports that type of skin and peripheral blood and visceral involvement are important prognostic factors in patients with MF or SS. Our results support the finding that patients with T1 stage disease have an excellent survival outlook and clinical outcome.

Bone Marrow↗

CD45RA+ immunophenotype in mycosis fungoides: clinical, histological and immunophenotypical features in 22 patients.

BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) usually characterized by a T-helper memory phenotype (CD3+, CD4+, CD8-, CD45R0+). Aberrant phenotypes are more commonly seen in the tumor stages. CD45RA expression has so far been documented in only a few cases of CD8+ or TCR gamma delta+ CTCL and in some pagetoid reticulosis cases. METHODS: Two hundred and fifteen MF patients were immunophenotyped in our laboratory between January 1992 and June 2000 and 22 cases of CD45RA+ MF (8.7%) were identified by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: The majority of these CD45RA+ patients (20/22) showed a patch-plaque stage disease and an indolent clinical course, as expected in early-stage MF. The remaining 2 patients presented with stage IIB and IVA MF, and were characterized by an aggressive clinical course, with systemic spread. The immunohistochemical analysis revealed that CD45RA+ neoplastic cells belonged to the memory compartment, displaying a CD62L-, CD11a+, CD29+ phenotype. Most patients showed aberrant phenotypes, with a loss of T-cell lineage markers and expression of cytotoxic molecules or gamma-delta chain of the T-cell receptor. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that CD45RA+ MF is a rare variant of CTCL and shares with the classic MF cases both the clinical features and disease course, even if it is characterized by a higher incidence of immunopathological abnormalities.

Adult↗

Histopathologic findings in the clinically uninvolved skin of patients with mycosis fungoides.

Several of the methods of treating plaque-stage mycosis fungoides (MF) advocate treatment of the whole skin, although relatively little information exists on the histologic appearance of clinically uninvolved MF skin. Our study was performed to elucidate the histologic appearance of the clinically uninvolved skin of plaque-stage MF patients. Biopsies were taken from the clinically uninvolved skin of 18 untreated patients with plaque-stage MF, 1 cm (near) and > or = 10 cm (far) from the MF plaques, and from 23 normal, healthy controls. Eight to 12 serial sections from each specimen were examined. The most common histologic finding, which was observed in six (33%) biopsies of near skin and four (22%) biopsies of far skin compared with only one (4%) biopsy of normal control (p = 0.02 and 0.1, respectively), consisted of mononuclear-cell infiltrate around a blood vessel in the papillary dermis, with extension of some of these cells into the overlying epidermis. More diffuse and epidermotropic mononuclear cell infiltrates were seen in an additional three (17%) biopsies of near skin, whereas mild nonepidermotropic superficial perivascular or perifollicular mononuclear cell infiltrates were observed in an additional four (17%) biopsies of the normal controls. In conclusion, the most common histologic finding in our study, which was observed predominantly in the MF group, might represent an earlier stage and clinically undetectable involvement of the normal-looking skin in MF patients.

Adult↗

Narrowband UVB and psoralen-UVA in the treatment of early-stage mycosis fungoides: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of early-stage mycosis fungoides (MF) consists of topical steroids, phototherapy (UVB), photochemotherapy (psoralen plus UVA [PUVA]), topical nitrogen mustard, or total skin electron-beam irradiation. It has been reported that the same effective UVB dose is safer than PUVA regarding carcinogenicity and produces fewer side effects. Narrowband UVB (311 nm) results in less irritation and erythema and is more effective compared with broadband UVB. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose in this retrospective study was to analyze the response to treatment, relapse-free interval, and irradiation dose in 56 patients with early-stage MF (stage Ia and Ib). A total of 21 patients were treated with narrowband UVB (311 nm); 35 patients were treated with PUVA. RESULTS: Narrowband UVB treatment led to complete remission in 17 of 21 patients (81%), partial remission in 4 of 21 (19%), and none showed progressive disease. PUVA treatment led to complete remission in 25 of 35 patients (71%), partial remission in 10 of 35 (29%), and none showed progressive disease. The mean relapse-free interval for patients treated with UVB was 24.5 months (range, 2-66 months) and for patients treated with PUVA, 22.8 months (range, 1-43 months). CONCLUSION: Narrowband UVB therapy for patients with early-stage MF is an effective treatment modality. It has several advantages over treatment with broadband UVB and PUVA. When treating patients with early-stage MF it may be beneficial to start with narrowband UVB therapy and, if there is progression or no response, switch to PUVA therapy.

Adult↗

Treatment of mycosis fungoides with photochemotherapy (PUVA): long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a non-Hodgkin's T-cell lymphoma of the skin that often begins as limited patches and plaques with slow progression to systemic involvement. No studies have been published comparing photochemotherapy (PUVA) with other topical therapies in the treatment of early-stage disease. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to examine our long-term experience using PUVA to treat early-stage MF and to compare its effectiveness and side-effect profile with other previously reported topical therapies. METHODS: Eighty-two patients with MF (83% stage IA or IB) were treated with PUVA. Clinical and histologic features were observed for a period from 2 months to 15 years (median, 43 months). RESULTS: A response was noted in 78 patients (95%) with complete clinical and histologic clearing in 53 patients (65%) for all stages. The mean duration of total complete response to PUVA for all stages was 43 months (3.6 years). The mean survival of our study group for all stages was 8.5 years. Signs of chronic actinic skin damage were found in 10% of patients, including three patients with basal cell carcinomas and three patients with squamous cell carcinomas. In a nonrandomized comparison with previously reported data for other topical therapies, the efficacy and side-effect profile of PUVA compared favorably. CONCLUSION: PUVA is an effective and safe therapy for MF with prolonged disease-free remissions being achieved. Patients with stage I and II MF respond best to PUVA. Palliative therapy with PUVA is useful in more advanced cases of MF.

Biopsy↗

Occupational exposures and mycosis fungoides. A European multicentre case-control study (Europe).

OBJECTIVES: Mycosis Fungoides (MF) is a rare disease with an occurrence indicating that occupational exposures may play a role. To estimate the association between MF and occupational exposures as measured by means of an job-exposure matrix (JEM). METHODS: A European multicenter case-control study was conducted from 1995 to 1997 and included seven rare cancers, one of which was MF. Patients between 35 and 69 years of age, diagnosed with MF (n=140), were recruited and the diagnoses were checked by a reference pathologist who classified 83 cases as definite, 35 cases as possible and 22 cases as not accepted. Among the 118 accepted cases, 104 cases were interviewed, of which 76 were definite cases. We selected population controls and colon cancer controls to serve all seven case groups. Altogether 833 colon cancer controls and 2071 population controls were interviewed. Based on the reported occupational experiences, a team of industrial hygiene specialists identified five potential exposures and developed an JEM. This JEM was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) for MF as a function of these exposures. The JEM included aromatic and/or halogenated hydrocarbons (AAHs), chrome (VI) and its salts, electromagnetic radiations, silica and pesticides. RESULTS: Exposures to AHHs (OR 6.3, C.I 2.4-16.7 for male) were associated with a high MF risk. CONCLUSIONS: The study supports the hypothesis that some MFs have an occupational etiology but only a small fraction of exposed workers are apparently susceptible since the disease is so rare.

Adult↗

The difficulty of detecting HTLV-1 proviral sequences in patients with mycosis fungoides.

Although most patients with cutaneous T cell lymphomas, including mycosis fungoides (MF) and its leukemic variant, the Sézary syndrome, are seronegative for antibodies to the human T cell lymphotropic viruses (HTLV-I/II), it has recently been shown that > 95% of such patients harbor proviral DNA sequences related to the region of the HTLV genome that encodes the transregulatory/transforming gene, tax. However, the demonstration of HTLV sequences, even after amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), has not been universally successful, and some investigators continue to question this observation. In an effort to resolve this controversy, we have compared published methodologies that have been less successful with techniques currently used in this laboratory. Major differences were found in (a) the nature of the cells used [freshly isolated versus cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)] and (b) the methods used to prepare samples for PCR (whole cell lysates versus DNA extracts). PBMC from 10 different MF patients and the healthy daughter of 1 of the patients were subjected to comparative analyses. While all of the PBMC lysates were positive, the DNA extract from only one of these individuals revealed HTLV tax sequences. Studies were also conducted comparing cell lysates and DNA extracts of cultured cells derived from tax sequence-positive PBMC from seven different MF patients. The cells from four of the seven were shown to have retained tax sequences after varying times in culture, when whole-cell lysates were used as targets for PCR amplification and Southern analysis, whereas none of the DNA extracts were positive. It appears that the use of whole-cell lysates instead of DNA extracts and the use of fresh instead of cultured cells greatly enhance the ability to detect HTLV-1 tax sequences in specimens from MF patients.

Blotting, Southern↗

Epstein-Barr virus-negative Hodgkin's lymphoma after mycosis fungoides: molecular evidence for distinct clonal origin.

The association of mycosis fungoides (MF) and Hodgkin's lymphoma is a relatively frequent occurrence, but the potential clonal relationship of the two neoplasms is still controversial. We report a case of a patient with a history of MF in Clinical Stage 1A who developed retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy 9 years after the initial diagnosis of MF. A bone marrow biopsy obtained at this time showed nodular involvement by a mixed cellular infiltrate with large, atypical cells consistent with Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells. These atypical cells were positive for CD30 and CD15 and did not express B- or T-cell markers. In addition, they lacked evidence of infection by Epstein-Barr virus, both by immunohistochemical staining for latent membrane protein 1 and by in situ hybridization for EBER1/2. The background population consisted mainly of small T cells without morphological or phenotypical signs of malignancy. Review of the skin biopsy obtained 9 years before showed the typical features of MF. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the T-cell receptor T-gene confirmed the presence of a clonal T-cell rearrangement in the skin specimen. The bone marrow biopsy, however, showed a polyclonal pattern both for the T-cell receptor gamma-gene, as well as for immunoglobulin heavy chain genes. Isolation of RS cells stained for CD30 was performed by laser capture microdissection. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of several groups of RS cells showed a reproducible biallelic rearrangement of IgH genes, which was confirmed by cloning and sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which a distinct clonal origin of MF and Hodgkin's lymphoma arising in the same patient is clearly demonstrated, based on molecular analysis of microdissected RS cells.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Evaluation of classic architectural criteria in non-mycosis fungoides cutaneous lymphomas.

Ninety-seven cases of non-mycosis fungoides (non-MF) cutaneous lymphoma were evaluated employing published criteria for the categorization of B- and T-cell cutaneous malignancies. Included in the study were 77 primary and secondary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas, in which the diagnosis was supported by immunohistochemical studies identifying lineage. These cases were randomized with 20 cases of non-MF and T-cell lymphoma. Hematoxylin and eosin (H & E)-stained slides from each case were reviewed by at least two dermatopathologists, who were unaware of the previous diagnoses, and a judgment regarding histologic pattern was rendered. The histologic criteria employed emphasized architectural features. For B-cell patterns, these included the presence of dense perivascular, periappendageal and/or nodular collections of lymphocytes, centering in the deep dermis, and separation from the epidermis by a grenz zone. Employed criteria for cutaneous T-cell pattern included location restricted primarily to the upper dermis, interstitial pattern, the presence of epidermotropism, and the lack of a grenz zone. Three B-cell lymphomas were judged to have indeterminate patterns. Four of 74 (5.4%) of the remaining B-cell lymphomas were incorrectly categorized as T-cell lymphomas by architectural criteria. The most striking findings included epidermotropism in rare B-cell lymphomas. Three of the four miscategorized cases were large-cell lymphomas. A preference for B-cell pattern was also confirmed in non-MF T-cell lymphomas. We conclude that most B-cell lymphomas in the skin demonstrate a recognizable B-cell pattern, but rarely a pattern more reminiscent of T-cell lymphoma may be seen. This may occur more often with B-large-cell lymphomas. In addition, this study supports previous work indicating that many non-MF T-cell lymphomas show prominent architectural features typically ascribed to B-cell lymphomas. In summary, our findings support the impression that the vast majority of non-MF lymphomas show a B-cell pattern regardless of their lineage. As such, caution is indicated with regard to pattern interpretation.

Adult↗

Experience with total skin electron beam therapy in combination with extracorporeal photopheresis in the management of patients with erythrodermic (T4) mycosis fungoides.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the prognosis of patients with erythrodermic mycosis fungoides (MF) administered total skin electron beam radiation (TSEB) plus neoadjuvant, concurrent, and adjuvant extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) with the prognosis of patients administered only TSEB. Outcomes of clinical interest include disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and cause-specific survival (CSS). METHODS: This study was a retrospective nonrandomized series. Between 1974 and 1997, a total of 44 patients with erythrodermic MF from the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, and the Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Care Ontario, Hamilton, Ontario, were collected and analyzed as a group (Hamilton = 15, Yale = 29). These patients received TSEB consisting of 32 to 40 Gy via 4 to 6 MeV. Twenty-one patients at Yale also received ECP treatment 2 days per month for a median of 6 months. Median age was 68 years (range, 29-82 years) at the commencement of TSEB, and 66% were male. Seventy-three percent of patients had received other therapies before TSEB, including 75 courses that failed to control disease (n = 15 systemic therapy, 16 biologicals, and 44 topical therapies). At TSEB, 59% had hematologic involvement (B1), 30% were stage IVA (N3), and 13% were IVB (M1). Median follow-up was 2.2 years (range, 0.3-13.9 years) subsequent to TSEB and 3.7 years from diagnosis (range, 0.8-16.8 years). RESULTS: All patients responded to TSEB within 2 months of completion, with a cutaneous complete response rate of 73%. For the 32 complete responders the 3-year DFS was 63%. It was 49% for those 17 patients who received only TSEB compared with 81% for those 15 patients who received TSEB + ECP. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that ECP was associated with prolonged remission (DFS multivariate P =.024, adjusting for B1 and stage). The 2-year PFS, CSS, and OS for the TSEB group were 36%, 69%, and 63%, respectively, compared with 66%, 100%, and 88% for the TSEB + ECP cohort. Cox regression demonstrated that ECP was associated with CSS (multivariate P =.048, adjusting for B1 and stage). For those who progressed, a total of 49 subsequent courses of therapy were administered (n = 20 chemotherapy, 10 biologicals, and 19 topical therapies). Thirteen patients died from MF-related causes, and 8 died from other causes. Acute and chronic toxicities were consistent with those previously reported. CONCLUSION: ECP given concurrently with, or immediately after, TSEB (32-40 Gy) significantly improves both PFS and CSS for patients with erythrodermic MF compared with TSEB without the addition of ECP.

Adult↗

Histopathologic studies in Sézary syndrome and erythrodermic mycosis fungoides: a comparison with benign forms of erythroderma.

Histologic sections from eleven patients with Sézary syndrome were reviewed and compared with those of four patients with erythrodermic mycosis fungoides and twenty-four patients with a benign form of erythroderma, including fifteen patients with chronic dermatitis, four with a generalized drug eruption, and five with an erythrodermic psoriasis. The most important discriminating histologic feature in patients with Sézary syndrome was the presence of a monotonous bandlike or perivascular infiltrate in the papillary dermis, mainly composed of large cerebriform-mononuclear cells, as seen in seven of eleven Sézary syndrome patients. Pautrier's microabscesses were observed in seven of eleven Sézary syndrome patients, two of four patients with erythrodermic mycosis fungoides, but not in any of the patients with a benign form of erythroderma; their presence was therefore considered a reliable criterion in differentiating erythrodermic cutaneous T cell lymphoma from benign forms of erythroderma. However, features of chronic dermatitis were often found superimposed on those of Sézary syndrome and were even predominating in four of eleven Sézary syndrome patients. Moreover, four patients with a benign form of erythroderma showed a histologic picture suggestive of cutaneous T cell lymphoma. Therefore, in dubious cases repeated skin biopsies, additional investigations of lymph nodes and peripheral blood, and careful follow-up are mandatory for the achievement of a correct diagnosis.

Adult↗

[Disordered keratinocyte differentiation in epidermal tumors and mycosis fungoides].

The immunocytochemical method with monoclonal antibodies to human and murine epidermis basal-cell antigen (BCAg) has been used in studies on the disorders in keratinocyte differentiation in epidermal tumors and mycosis fungoides. The fluorescence intensity augmented and BCAg distribution in the cytoplasm grew more diffuse as the degree of the tumor cell differentiation lowered. In mycosis fungoides the BCAg reaction has been positive first in the suprabasal layers; as the disease progressed, the fluorescence has involved the entire epidermis. The BCAg test is a sensitive tool for estimating the epidermal cell maturity in processes associated with impaired differentiation of keratinocytes.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of mycosis fungoides presenting as an ulcerating breast mass.

A patient with previously diagnosed Hodgkin's disease presented with ulcerating lesions on her scalp and breast. Fine-needle aspiration of the breast lesion revealed convoluted cells consistent with mycosis fungoides. Review of the patient's previously obtained lymph node biopsy specimens revealed a diagnosis of mycosis fungoides rather than Hodgkin's disease. Better communication between hospitals, pathologists, and clinicians may have prevented the erroneous original diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease in this patient.

Adult↗

[Sea-blue histiocytes in a patient with mycosis fungoides].

The syndrome of the sea-blue histiocyte is a multisystemic infiltration by a special kind of macrophages which contain a ceroid material within its cytoplasm. We report herein a patient with mycosis fungoides, hyperlipidaemia type IIB and sea-blue histiocytes on bone marrow. Moreover, the cutaneous histopathology showed focus of eosinophilic spongiosis, that have not been previously described in mycosis fungoides, as far as we know.

Aged↗

Transfer factor in mycosis fungoides: a case report on a patient "cured".

A report is given of the successful treatment with transfer factor as an additional therapeutic agent of a patient in the tumour stage of mycosis fungoides who had not responded to conventional treatment with nitrogen mustard, methotrexate, or grenz rays alone. Besides twelve injections of transfer factor, the patient received X-irradiation, 1 400 r (50 kV 1 mm Al) in all, to three tumours. The combined treatment induced sustained remissions. When that patient died from a coronary infarct 5 years after treatment began, autopsy showed no evidence of mycosis fungoides at all.

Humans↗

Invisible mycosis fungoides: A diagnostic challenge.

We describe a 76-year-old woman who presented persistent generalized pruritus as the only cutaneous manifestation of a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides). No cutaneous lesions were observed throughout the patient's course. Skin biopsies obtained from normal-looking pruritic skin revealed a discrete perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate in the upper dermis and focal intraepidermal clusters of atypical lymphoid cells (Pautrier's microabscesses). PCR analysis of TCR-gamma gene disclosed a monoclonal T-cell rearrangement. Sequencing of the PCR monoclonal product identified the J(8)V(2)C(2) TCR gene rearrangement. This observation illustrates the existence of a peculiar and exceedingly rare form of mycosis fungoides characterized only by persistent pruritus unresponsive to several therapeutic approaches. The diagnostic difficulties of this rare variant are stressed.

Aged↗

Invisible mycosis fungoides: a diagnostic challenge.

We describe a 76-year-old woman who had persistent generalized pruritus as the only cutaneous manifestation of a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides). No cutaneous lesions were observed throughout the patient's course. Skin biopsy specimens obtained from normal-looking pruritic skin revealed a discrete perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate in the upper dermis and focal intraepidermal clusters of atypical lymphoid cells (Pautrier's microabscesses). PCR analysis of TCR-gamma gene disclosed a monoclonal T-cell rearrangement. Sequencing of the PCR monoclonal product identified the J(8)V(2)C(2) TCR gene rearrangement. This observation illustrates the existence of a peculiar and exceedingly rare form of mycosis fungoides characterized only by persistent pruritus unresponsive to several therapeutic approaches. The diagnostic difficulties of this rare variant are stressed.

Aged↗

[Mycosis fungoides. A review of the clinical picture, treatment and course in 107 patients].

During the period 1972 till the end of 1987, 107 patients with the diagnosis of mycosis fungoides or cutaneous T-cell lymphoma were examined and treated in the Department of Dermatology, Marselisborg Hospital. This disease belongs to the group of non-Hodgkin T-cell lymphomata. The diagnosis is based on the occurrence of red, scaly plaques in the skin associated with itching or tumours in the skin and, simultaneously, of a pleomorphic infiltrate consisting of CD4-positive T-lymphocytes which show characteristically exocytoses in the epidermis with subsequent formation of Pautrier's microabscesses. The disease may progress with spread to the regional lymph nodes where lymphomata develop. Treatment is initially local with employment of chlormethin ("nitrogen mustard gas") and this treatment can maintain the patients in remission for prolonged periods. In cases with spread to lymph glands or in particularly aggressive forms with tumour formation in the skin, combined chemotherapy is administered (prednisone, cyclophosphamide, etretinate and bleomycin). Thirty-eight of the patients were in stage I in which a clinical suspicion of mycosis fungoides was present but where the histological changes were insufficient to confirm the diagnosis. IVa and ten in stage IVb. The age at the onset of the symptoms was from 59 to 64 years (median values) for the various stages. Stages I and II had approximately 80% five-year survival, while the stages with more extensive spread had approximately 50% survival. The etiology of the disease is unknown but, during recent years, certain evidence has been found suggesting that activation of a retrovirus in the epidermis may be a contributory factor.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗