Combined therapy for Sezary syndrome with extracorporeal photochemotherapy and low-dose interferon alfa therapy. Clinical, molecular, and immunologic observations

Human Chymase Expression in a Mice Induces Mild Hypertension with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

“…There are also clinical indications that mast cells are involved in the pathogenesis of several forms of hair loss and alopecia in humans. In some forms of scarring alopecias (41,42) and in androgenetic alopecia (43), the number of skin mast cells is remarkably increased. These data support the notion that mast cells function as a hair cycle regulator and are involved in the control of hair follicle regression.…”

Extracorporeal Photopheresis of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma Is Associated with Reduction of Peripheral CD4+ T Lymphocytes

“…In addition to the clinical improvement a long-term, disease-free remission could be induced by ECP in a minority of patients [5]. The almost complete clearing of skin lesions and the marked diminution of extensive lymphadenopathy in a patient with rapidly advancing Sézary syndrome treated with a combination of ECP and low-dose IFN-α was followed by disappearance of the malignant T-cell clone from the peripheral blood documented by Southern blot analysis [6]. The mechanisms of action underlying the favorable clinical results of ECP still remain to be elucidated.…”

Choosing a systemic treatment for advanced stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome

“…54 The addition of IFN ␣-2b, the first reported therapy used with ECP, may also have a synergistic effect with ECP. 170,177 The dose of IFN alpha used with ECP is also lower than when used as monotherapy: 1-5 million units subcutaneously 3 times weekly and the dose can be increased as tolerated. Anemia from the ECP, interferon, and bexarotene is often present after prolonged therapy.…”

“…24 Combination immunotherapy (photopheresis with low-dose interferon and/or bexarotene) should be used as first-line therapy with response rates of Ͼ50%. 177,231 Photopheresis works best in patients with T-reg CD4ϩFoxP3ϩCD25-T-reg cells 231 and corrects dendritic cell ratios. 232 For patients with a matched donor, total body skin electron beam followed by non-ablative allogeneic stem cell transplant can produce durable complete responses in ϳ50% of patients.…”