Immunopathogenesis and therapy of cutaneous T cell lymphoma

J Clin Invest. 2005 Apr;115(4):798-812. doi: 10.1172/JCI24826.

Abstract

Cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are a heterogenous group of lymphoproliferative disorders caused by clonally derived, skin-invasive T cells. Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome (SS) are the most common types of CTCLs and are characterized by malignant CD4(+)/CLA(+)/CCR4(+) T cells that also lack the usual T cell surface markers CD7 and/or CD26. As MF/SS advances, the clonal dominance of the malignant cells results in the expression of predominantly Th2 cytokines, progressive immune dysregulation in patients, and further tumor cell growth. This review summarizes recent insights into the pathogenesis and immunobiology of MF/SS and how these have shaped current therapeutic approaches, in particular the growing emphasis on enhancement of host antitumor immune responses as the key to successful therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy* / methods
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous* / etiology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous* / immunology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous* / pathology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous* / therapy
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Skin / cytology
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / etiology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Survival Rate
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Antigens, CD