Transplantation in the Treatment of Primary Cutaneous Aggressive Epidermotropic Cytotoxic CD8-Positive T-Cell Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Primary cutaneous aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic CD8 positive T-cell lymphoma (CD8+ PCAETL) is a rare subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphoma with poor outcomes and without a standardized treatment strategy. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been suggested as a potential curative therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case series. We identified 8 patients with the diagnosis of CD8+ PCAETL, 4 of whom also underwent allogeneic HSCT. RESULTS: Eight patients were treated at our center with combination chemotherapy and several novel agents, including histone deacetylase inhibitors, brentuximab, and pralatrexate. Patients underwent a median of 8.5 treatments before HSCT. Six of the 8 patients examined, including all 4 who received an HSCT, were alive at their last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Allogeneic HSCT is a promising treatment modality for CD8+ PCAETL. Because of the aggressive nature of this disease and lack of sustained remission with currently available therapies, HSCT should be considered early in the course of treatment. Two novel agents, brentuximab and pralatrexate, showed significant activity against CD8+ PCAETL, and may be incorporated earlier in the treatment course.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for primary cutaneous γδ T-cell lymphoma and refractory subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: The panniculitic T-cell lymphomas (TCLs) comprise 2 distinct entities, αß subcutaneous panniculitis-like TCL (SPTCL) and the γδ cutaneous TCLs with pannicular involvement primary cutaneous γδ (PCGD)-TCL. Although outcomes for most patients with SPTCL are favorable, those with PCGD-TCLs generally have an inferior outcome, and treatment strategies have not been well defined. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been shown to be a potentially curative strategy in aggressive TCLs and in refractory and advanced-stage mycosis fungoides. OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze the outcomes of HSCT for panniculitic cutaneous TCL. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (4 SPTCL, 10 PCGD-TCL) presented with primarily pannicular T-cell infiltrates. Seven patients underwent allogeneic HSCT from matched-related donors and matched-unrelated donors of which 4 (57%) are alive (1 SPTCL, 3 PCGD-TCL) at 7.8, 6.9, 6.2, and 0.25 years. Two patients underwent autologous HSCT (1 SPTCL, 1 PCGD-TCL) and both are alive at a median follow-up of 1.91 years. LIMITATIONS: This study is limited by its retrospective nature and small sample size because of the rarity of SPTCL and PCGD-TCL. CONCLUSION: Aggressive therapy followed by allogeneic HSCT is a promising treatment modality for patients with PCGD-TCL.

A fatal case of primary cutaneous gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma complicated by HLH and cardiac amyloidosis.

Gamma-delta T-cell lymphomas (GD-TCL) are rare and rapidly fatal neoplasms that are often associated with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a syndrome of fevers, cytopenias, and multiorgan failure that often leads to a rapid death. We report the first case demonstrating an association between GD-TCL, HLH, and cardiac amyloidosis, presenting a novel mechanism for rapid deterioration in these patients.

CD4 + primary cutaneous small/medium-sized pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma: a retrospective case series and review of literature.

CD4 + primary cutaneous small/medium-sized pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma (CD4 + PCSM-TCL) is a rare T-cell lymphoma associated with a favorable prognosis. A retrospective study of 23 patients with CD4 + PCSM-TCL as defined by World Health Organization-European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (WHO-EORTC) and WHO classifications was conducted. Median age was 63 years. The head and neck were the most commonly affected locations, followed by the trunk. Two patients had evidence of systemic involvement at relapse. All tumors were CD3 + and CD4+. CD5 and CD7 loss occurred in 52% and 84%, respectively. The median follow-up was 33.6 months. Eleven patients had excisional biopsy only, six had localized radiotherapy and two received excision and localized radiation. Cytotoxic chemotherapy and localized radiation were used in one patient with aggressive and invasive features. All patients had a complete remission but one developed systemic involvement. Our case series demonstrates that CD4 + PCSM-TCL is an indolent T-cell lymphoma that can be treated with local modalities and raises the question of its current classification as a lymphoma.