Bexarotene treatment of late-stage mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome: development of extracutaneous lymphoma in 6 patients.

Abstract

Bexarotene is a retinoid drug that is approved for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. We report 6 cases in which the initiation of bexarotene therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma was temporally associated with the progression of internal disease despite improvement in cutaneous signs and symptoms. It is possible that bexarotene contributed to this progression. Although bexarotene therapy may alleviate symptoms and signs of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, careful surveillance of lymph nodes and solid organs during treatment is advised.

• Authors: Saskia A Bouwhuis, Mark D P Davis, Rokea A el-Azhary, Marian T McEvoy, Lawrence E Gibson, John M Knudsen, Joseph M Kist, Mark R Pittelkow
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (J Am Acad Dermatol) Vol. 52 Issue 6 Pg. 991-6 (Jun 2005) ISSN: 1097-6787 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 15928617 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Tetrahydronaphthalenes
• Bexarotene

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Bexarotene
• Female
• Humans
• Lymphoma, T-Cell (chemically induced)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mycosis Fungoides (drug therapy, pathology)
• Neoplasm Staging
• Sezary Syndrome (drug therapy)
• Skin Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Tetrahydronaphthalenes (adverse effects, therapeutic use)